The longest strike in NHS history kicked off today as thousands of junior doctors across England took to the picket line to begin their six-day walkout.
Junior doctors – who represent almost half of the medical workforce – will have urgent care covered by senior staff. But an estimated 88,000 routine appointments are likely to be cancelled in this fresh spate of industrial action. This will pile further pressure on the NHS’s record waiting list of 7.8 million – a backlog which has grown every month since Sunak made his pledge this time last year to cut it.
Over the course of 2023, more than 1.2 million appointments have been cancelled due to strike action, which is estimated to have cost the NHS over ÂŁ2bn.
