Junior doctors’ strike: hospitals ‘worried about overnight patient safety’

Hospital bosses are worried about keeping patients safe overnight this week because of a shortage of consultants available to cover for striking junior doctors.

When junior doctors in England staged their first strike in mid-March in their pay dispute with the government, their consultant colleagues covered for them for the three days involved.

However, fewer consultants are available to do the same during this week’s four-day stoppage because it coincides with Easter, Passover and Ramadan and many are off.

NHS Providers, which represents health service trusts, highlighted the difficulty hospital bosses are facing in trying to ensure nightshift medical rotas are fully staffed this week. T

“Getting through today is just the start. Trust leaders are worried about securing adequate cover for the night shifts ahead. This is going to be a very long, difficult week for the NHS,” said Miriam Deakin, the head of policy at NHS Providers. “Keeping patients as safe as possible, trusts’ No 1 priority, will be even harder than in previous strikes so it’s all hands on deck.”

Other health professionals, including GPs, paramedics and pharmacists, were helping hospitals ensure patients received good care, Deakin added.

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Source: The Guardian, 11 April 2023