Health worker strikes will have knock-on effect on appointments with return to ‘very high numbers’ of emergency calls, NHS Providers warns | UK News

NHS Providers have warned that a two-day strike by nurses and paramedics will affect appointments with a “very high number” of emergency calls in the coming days.

Historical attack action seen thousands of nurses pickpockets on Tuesday and paramedics held their biggest strike in 30 years yesterday.

The 999 caller count appeared to have dropped in some parts of the UK yesterday, and the NHS hospital, mental health services, community and ambulance service member organization said there had been “another level of disruption”. each other” nationwide.

It indicates some demand has shifted to other services or not materialized as expected.

But the organization says demand for care across the health care system remains high, and trusted leaders have reported ongoing delays to ambulance services and emergency situations. Overcrowding in some accident and emergency departments.

NHS England said at least 11,509 staff had been laid off across England during the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) strike on Tuesday and 13,797 appointments and procedures had to be rescheduled.

Members of the military stepped in to replace paramedics yesterday, with the trust telling patients to only call 999 in the event of a life-threatening injury. The next ambulance strike will be on December 28.

Read more:
Strikes every day before Christmas – which sectors are affected and why

Government can fast-track NHS pay rise

Meanwhile, reports say the government could fast-track an NHS pay rise next year.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Health Secretary Steve Barclay is ready to hammer out a fast pay deal after unions and ministers remain mired in an impasse over pay conditions.

The newspaper said a source close to Mr Barclay, who has been criticized by unions for alleging the striking medical staff had “consciously chosen to harm patients”, revealed that he is keen to “speed up the process” of giving NHS staff a raise early next year.

Unions have said they expect NHS staff to be offered a 2% increase next year based on a letter Mr Barclay sent last month to the NHS Payments Review Authority.

Wales strike action ‘nasty for all’

British Medical Association Cymru said doctors in Wales were considering strike action for the first time.

Nearly two-thirds of hospital doctors surveyed by the union said they were willing to take some form of industrial action over pay and conditions.

Iona Collins, chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, called the survey “upset for all” and said it was “heartbreaking that doctors have to consider quitting”.

She added: “Without action now, patients will continue to suffer the direct consequences of the NHS being poorly funded and not having enough direct clinical care.”

In October, the BMA announced that a vote on industrial action by junior doctors in the UK would open on 9 January.

Just under 1,000 doctors in Wales responded to a survey seeking views on a 4.5% pay award from the Welsh government – with 78% of those responding saying they would like a pay raise to match or exceed too inflationary.

Dr Collins said: “Doctors have been quietly leaving the NHS for years, either by reducing contracted hours or leaving altogether. The financial incentive to stay in the NHS has eroded over the past decade. .”