NHS England has published data following last week’s strike action.

Junior doctors and hospital dental trainees began their strike action on Wednesday (20 December) at 7.00am and finished at 7.00am on Saturday (23 December).

As a result of this latest strike action, the following number of appointments and procedures will be rescheduled in the South East region:

• Total number of Mental Health and LDA appointments rescheduled = 73
• Total number of elective procedures rescheduled (inpatient and outpatient) = 9,809
• Total number of community appointments rescheduled (inpatient and day cases) = 63

In addition: –

• Total number of staff absent from work (headcount) in the South East = 10,114

Nationally, a total of 86,329 inpatient and outpatient appointments will be rescheduled as a result.

Further strikes by junior doctors have been announced by The British Medical Association. These will take place from 7.00am on Wednesday 3 January 2024 until 7.00am on Tuesday 9 January 2024.

Andrea Lewis, Regional Chief Nurse for NHS South East, said: “This latest round of strike action has put additional pressure on already overloaded heath services.

“The three days of strike action, which ended just days before Christmas, has resulted in more than 10,000 appointments and procedures being rescheduled for patients needing care in the South East.

“In addition to having an impact on planned care, industrial action is putting pressure on wider services, and prioritising emergency care takes staff away from other areas such as recovering services.

She added: “The six-day walkout planned in the New Year, during what is one of the busiest times for the health service, will ultimately bring significant challenges to the NHS as it struggles to provide for patients amid severe disruption.

“As ever, we encourage people to attend A&E and call 999 in life-threatening emergencies, but to use 111 online for other health needs.”