HOSPITALS will be even busier next week as they play catch-up after the junior doctors’ strike that ends tomorrow.
NHS bosses said demand from sick patients will keep rising through January, with flu season expected to peak next week.
PAJunior doctors have been on strike for six days[/caption]
Clinics will also have to make up for lost time having had only four fully staffed days since December 19.
Nurses and senior doctors hoping for a reprieve after six days of walkouts could be out of luck.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said: “All signs point to the coming weeks being even more gruelling for the NHS than last week’s strike.
“Winter viruses are set to peak in the middle of January, meaning more patients arriving to hospital.
“Meanwhile NHS staff will be keeping their foot on the accelerator to catch up the appointments postponed due to strikes.
“No matter the pressure, patients should still come forward for care when they need it – dial 999 if it’s an emergency and otherwise use 111.”
Junior doctors led by the British Medical Association finish their record-breaking six-day strike today after starting last Wednesday.
More than 100,000 appointments and operations are expected to have been cancelled, taking the total past one million since they first walked out.
NHS figures last week showed ambulances were the busiest they have been all winter and flu and Covid patient numbers are surging.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins called junior doctors “unreasonable” for downing tools at the worst time of year.
Speaking in the House of Commons today she said the BMA accepted only two out of 40 hospital requests for doctors to come off picket lines to keep patients safe.
And she hailed other staff such as nurses, consultants, managers and care workers “heroic” for picking up the slack.
Ms Atkins said: “Work doesn’t stop when the strikes stop.
“NHS staff will begin turning their attention to recovering from the impact of industrial action.
“The junior doctor committee’s choice to strike at this time of year means that this work must now be done under additional pressure as staff move to catch up as well as tackling the impact of cold weather, Covid, flu and norovirus.”