Just as waiting lists fall fears grow over strikes

THE strike by resident doctors is likely to send NHS waiting lists soaring once again after months of hard work to bring them down.

- By Lucy Johnston SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

Analysis found during the most intense period of strikes by what were then called junior doctors, between January and September 2023, hospital waiting lists surged by 555,453 patients — rising from 7.21 million to 7.77 million.

The figures, compiled by business consultancy Broadstone, also showed that after the Government reached a pay agreement with the British Medical Association last July, the waiting lists fell.

From then until April this year the backlog dropped by 233,810, down to 7.38 million.

Brett Hill, head of health at Broadstone, warned: "The fresh resident doctor strike action will almost certainly derail the Government’s hard-won progress in bringing down waiting lists."

A NHS adviser said: "These strikes will lead to the cancellation of operations, worsening the NHS waiting lists. It will also lead to the cancellation of vital appointments leading to treatments and operations.