NHS faces worst winter in memory due to junior doctors’ strikes starting today, hospital bosses warn

JUNIOR doctors’ strikes starting today threaten to make it the NHS’s worst winter in memory, hospital bosses warn.

The health service will almost grind to a halt at its busiest time of year, with just four full working days between now and January 10.

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The strike disruption comes as emergency staff prepare for the annual surge of flu and Covid patients, while 13,000 inpatients are overdue for discharge.

Sir Julian Hartley, of NHS Providers, said: “Last winter was the worst that many NHS leaders can remember, and they’re expecting this one to be even tougher.

“NHS trust leaders’ worst fears have been realised — they were dreading more strikes this winter.”

Thousands of junior doctors in England are refusing to work until Saturday morning and again for six days from January 3 in a row over pay.

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One A&E department in Cheltenham, Gloucs, has been forced to close on strike days.

And NHS bosses in Wakefield, West Yorks, have urged residents: “Please only come to A&E for life-threatening medical emergencies and serious injuries.”

Patient groups last night issued an 11th-hour plea for the British Medical Association to call off the strike.

The coalition of charities and NHS leaders, led by Age UK, have written a public letter warning: “It will be extremely difficult to ensure safe and effective care during this period for all patients that need it.”

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It added thousands of people face spending Christmas “stranded” in hospital because of blocked discharges.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “It is hard to guarantee patient safety if you are operating a hospital with a skeleton clinical staff already depleted by sickness and annual leave.”

PM Rishi Sunak called the strikes “very disappointing”, saying agreement had been reached “with every other part of the NHS, including our nurses, consultants and the other doctor grades”.

The BMA said it had been close to a deal but walked away from the latest talks.