The new chairman of the NHS has admitted he is “fearful” for patients during the upcoming six-day junior doctors’ strike.
Senior medics have warned that conditions such as cancer and heart disease will be missed because patients will avoid going to hospital during the walkout being staged from January 3 to 9.
Richard Meddings, in his first interview since becoming chair, said pressure “can’t continue like this”.
The strike – on the most challenging week of the year for the NHS – is the longest ever seen by the health service and follows a three-day strike last week.
Mr Meddings said: “It just can’t continue like this. The pressure on the NHS in normal times is significant and we’re doing a lot about that. But in winter it’s particularly acute and that’s why I’m fearful.
“Winter is really difficult. Actually, I am fearful for consequences for patients.
“It will take almost three weeks out of the system [because of the timings of the two strikes, from December 20 to January 9]. We’ve already lost over 40 days this year to strike action [30 of which were down to junior doctors] — and those weren’t in winter.
“Now, they’re choosing this particular period, which I think is really unfortunate.”
He said the strike would affect waiting lists, which the NHS has been trying to reduce.
“We set a very good programme of reduction.
“We almost eliminated 78-week waits and halved 65-week waits.
“And then actually, candidly, we’ve been stalled in further progress predominantly because of industrial action.
“I don’t think this is the new normal – we will, once industrial action is resolved, get back on the steady reduction of the waiting list.”
During last week’s action, hospitals warned patients over long waiting times in A&E, with at least one hospital having to close its emergency department.
The Government has offered junior doctors an 8.8% pay rise, with those newest to the profession getting up to 10.3%. But the British Medical Association wants pay to rocket by 35% – a demand many believe is unreasonable.
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the NHS had coped during the three-day strike that ended on Saturday.
But some patients who would have otherwise gone home for Christmas had not been able to be discharged.
January’s strike will be a different matter, he says, adding: “Six days of strike action following a bank holiday at a time of enormous pressure, there are real issues around patient safety and we don’t have in place national derogations, which we have had for other strikes.
“So yes, there will be an impact on the backlog, but I also have real concerns about patient safety over these days.”
