NHS England warns against block cancellations during ‘unprecedented’ strikes

NHS England has told trust, system and regional leaders to avoid “block rescheduling” of elective cases during the four-day junior doctors’ strike next month.

In a letter sent by national medical director Sir Steve Powis and NHSE’s chief operating officer Sir David Sloman, NHS leaders are asked instead to use “rolling day-to-day cancellations” and reschedule cases “based on clinical risk”.

The letter also urges leaders to maintain “as much day case and outpatient capacity as possible” and to use digital or virtual consultations to support outpatient delivery. However, it acknowledges that because of the “unprecedented scale and timing of these strikes we accept that rescheduling activity is going to be essential to minimise risks to patients”.

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Source: HSJ, 31 March 2023