NHS backlog progress at risk from junior doctors' strike in England

Progress being made on tackling the hospital waiting backlog will be put at risk by next week's junior doctors' strike, NHS bosses are warning.

NHS England medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said there had been huge achievements over the winter.

But he said it was inevitable the 72-hour walkout in England, which starts on Monday, would have an impact.

It comes as the annual NHS staff survey shows a falling number happy to recommend the care at their service.

The poll found 63% would be happy to see a friend or relative treated - down by five percentage points in the past year and 11 over two years.

Meanwhile, latest performance data shows NHS emergency services are continuing to miss their targets, although the situation is not getting worse.

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said despite the situation not getting worse it still presented a "damning" picture, and warned it was "increasingly causing harm to patients".

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Source: BBC News, 9 March 2023