Recover

---

By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent

The disruption caused by the junior-doctors' strike in England could take weeks to resolve, health bosses say.

Tens of thousands of appointments and treatments, including cancer care, had to be cancelled during the three-day walkout, which ends at 07:00.

Patients with appointments Coming Up may see them cancelled to make room for high-priority cases hit by The Strike .

Hospitals are also reporting problems discharging patients from wards, as consultants were sent to cover A& E.

'Big job'

Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said the scale and length of the walkout, coupled with the fact it started on a Monday - traditionally the busiest day of the week - had made it more difficult than previous strikes by nurses and ambulance staff.

" It will take weeks to Recover - just rebooking patients who have treatments and appointments cancelled is a big job, " She Said .

" Patients have to be individually prioritised - it may mean some patients with bookings in The Coming weeks being pushed further back. "

During The Nurses ' strikes, some trusts reported up to a fifth of appointments being Postponed - But those strikes affected only a third of NHS trusts at any One Time .

The walkout by British Medical Association members involved all NHS trusts.

A year ago, Liz Slaughter, had a total knee replacement, which failed. After a second operation, the knee dislocated. And despite further surgery, the 60-year-old, from Worthing, Sussex, remains in significant pain.

Her appointment with a hospital consultant, on Tuesday, was cancelled last week - and has yet to be rearranged.

" I'm in constant pain and can only walk for about Five Minutes at most, " Ms Slaughter says.

" It was really disappointing to be told The Appointment was cancelled - I had been Holding Out for it as it's been a really difficult period for me.

" I understand The Reason they're striking. Whether they're entitled to the 35% pay rise and whether that's realistic I don't know. I'm sorry for them they feel driven to do this. "

The Strike had also hit NHS trust finances, Ms Cordery said, with.

" We really cannot afford another strike, for the sake of patients and also NHS trust finances, " She Said . " Consultants have been paid steep rates to provide cover. "

The BMA is asking for 35% pay rise to Make Up for 15 years of below-inflation wage rises.

On Saturday, its leaders turned down Health Secretary Steve Barclay 's last-minute offer of pay talks, as he was unwilling to discuss a rise of this scale.

The government has suggested 3. 5% next year.

The BMA's demands were " unaffordable" Mr Barclay said, But he was keen to come to a " fair settlement".

Matthew Taylor , of the Nhs Confederation , which represents health managers, urged the BMA and government to find a resolution, saying he hoped another walkout and disruption on this scale would " never happen again".

" The government and BMA need to find a way to move beyond their impasse, " he added.

Related Topics

Source of news: bbc.com