Over one million medical appointments cancelled since beginning of UK strikes

Strikes by medical professionals from the UK's National Health Service, the Kingdom's publicly funded healthcare system, have caused over one million cancellations in appointments for medical consultations or surgeries.

As reported by BBC, this figure was released by a report released on September 25, with health service leaders calling the situation “damaging and demoralising”, warning, that there is a “human cost” every time a procedure or appointment is delayed.

Medical workers such as doctors, nurses, ambulance staff and physicians have gone on strikes since December 2022, demanding better working conditions and salary increases in light of the recent global increased cost of living crisis. Further joint strikes by junior doctors and consultants are due next week during the Tory party conference.

As some patients have seen their appointments postponed up to 13 times, experts say that the true toll is likely to be far greater, as hospitals avoid scheduling appointments for strike days in order to not have to cancel them later.

Junior doctors have announced that they will continue striking next week as they are still waiting for the government to make a “credible offer” that the British Medical Association (BMA) can present to them. The group has previously demanded a 35% pay rise, while consultants seek an above-inflation pay award of 11%.