Thousands more elderly people will be stuck in hospital over Christmas because of junior doctors’ strikes, Age UK has warned.
The charity is among several who have said the timing of the strikes, which begin at 7am on Wednesday means it will be “extremely difficult to ensure safe and effective care” during them.
Age UK is one of five organisations raising fears over patient safety and making a plea to the British Medical Association (BMA) and Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, for a resolution to the dispute.
Junior doctors’ walkouts are due to last until Saturday, with their longest strike to come early in the new year, while flu, norovirus and Covid hospitalisations are rising.
In a joint letter with the NHS Confederation, Patients Association, National Voices and Healthwatch , Age UK said strike action in the days ahead could leave thousands of patients stranded in hospital for want of staff to get them discharged.
The latest figures show 13,000 such cases in hospitals despite being medically fit for discharge. The charities said the withdrawal of almost half the medical workforce in England would mean the most vulnerable are left “bearing the brunt” of the pay dispute.
“Our concern is that, despite the best efforts of hard-working NHS staff, it will be extremely difficult to ensure safe and effective care during this period for all patients that need it.”
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Source: The Telegraph, 20 December 2023
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