More than 300,000 ops axed in London as junior doctors strike for six days

JUNIOR doctors today began the longest strike in NHS history as figures revealed that more than 337,000 appointments and operations had been cancelled in London due to industrial action.

- Daniel Keane

NHS leaders warned that the health service was facing its “toughest challenge yet” as thousands of medics began a six-day walkout over pay at 7am.

The strike over pay will affect almost all routine services as the NHS shifts its focus to urgent and emergency care. Hospitals are also grappling with a surge in flu, norovirus and Covid cases. The strike will end at 7am next Tuesday.

It comes after talks between Health Secretary Victoria Atkins and the British Medical Association broke down last month, with the Government insisting that negotiations could not resume unless the union called off strike action.

Analysis by the Standard found that more than 337,000 inpatient and outpatient appointments had been rescheduled in London across a year of industrial action in the NHS.