More than a thousand procedures and appointments had to be rescheduled during the junior doctor's strike in Suffolk this week.
According to figures from NHS England, published on Wednesday (January 10),
1,551 elective procedures and appointments had to be rescheduled within West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds during the strike, 70 of these were inpatient elective surgeries, and 1,481 outpatient appointments.
In Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, 739 elective procedures and appointments had to be rescheduled, 64 of which were inpatient elective surgeries, 675 outpatient appointments.
In a pay dispute between the government and medics in training from the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), junior doctors took part in industrial action between Wednesday, January 3 and Tuesday, January 9.
It was the longest consecutive strike action ever taken in the history of the NHS.
Nick Hulme is Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.
He said: “Our teams have worked tirelessly to keep patients safe during the recent strikes. All that hard work doesn’t stop now that the latest rounds of industrial action are over.
"Like all trusts, we'll be feeling the impact of the longest strike action in NHS history for weeks and months to come.
"At ESNEFT we are rebooking any postponed elective appointments as quickly as we can. It's so important these people receive the tests, checks and treatment they need without further delay.
"While pay is a matter for government and the trade unions, we want to see a resolution as soon as possible.
"We will now continue to work through what is one of the most challenging times of year for the NHS. Demand for all our services is high and more patients are requiring our care. Respiratory viruses, such as flu and COVID-19, are on the rise, and cold weather also brings added pressure.”
Nicola Cottington, chief operating officer for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Regrettably, during the latest strike period many appointments and procedures had to be postponed and the number of services provided reduced.
“I understand that a postponement can be very worrying for our patients, particularly if they have been waiting a long time.
"I would like to reassure them that we will be in contact to rearrange their appointment or procedure at the earliest opportunity if we have not already done so.
“We prioritised the continued delivery of care for our longest waiting patients where possible, alongside our urgent and emergency services, and brought forward patient appointments or procedures for the most urgent cases.”
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