Strikes caused 22 ‘critical incidents’, government claims

The NHS has declared 22 ‘critical incidents’ due to disruption caused by industrial action since December, including having to transfer critical care patients, according to the Department for Health and Social Care.

Critical care and gynaecology patients have had to be moved to other hospitals due to staffing shortages, urgent cancer surgery and chemotherapy appointments have had to be rescheduled and urgent surgery on trauma patients “could not go ahead” during critical incidents declared in periods of strike action since December, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

There have been strikes by both doctors and Agenda for Change staff over pay during 2023, and Wednesday sees junior doctors and medical consultants strike on the same day for the first time.

The DHSC has not previously revealed critical incidents caused by strikes, nor details of them. Trusts typically have different triggers for declaring critical incidents, but they indicate severe strain on services, and it is not unusual for them to happen during high winter pressures. 

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Source: HSJ, 20 September 2023