The junior doctors’ strike had an “unacceptable” impact on patients, says an MP after new figures show more than 1,500 appointments were postponed at the county’s hospitals as a result of industrial action.
Robert Courts, MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire, accused the county’s junior doctors of causing “huge fear and anxiety” for patients by joining in with the six-day walkout from January 3 to January 9.
NHS England figures showed an average of 171 junior doctors were on strike each day over the six-day period at the county’s four largest hospitals.
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As a result, 1,719 inpatient and outpatient appointments were postponed at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, all in Oxford, and Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Mr Courts said: “It is unacceptable that the junior doctor strikes have now resulted in more than 1,500 hospital appointments being postponed in Oxfordshire.
“Our junior doctors are knowingly causing huge fear and anxiety for patients, and worse they are risking public safety when the NHS is at its busiest and most challenging time of the year.”
The strike, which postponed more than 113,000 appointments across England, came as the British Medical Association (BMA) demanded a 35 per cent pay rise.
The Government called this "not affordable".
Patient care in the county was “extremely challenged” by the strikes, according to the Oxford University Hospitals Trust, which runs the four hospitals.
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The first day of the strike saw the John Radcliffe and Horton hospitals moved into ‘operation pressure escalation level four’ (OPEL 4), which meant pressure at the hospitals was so great that patient safety was potentially at risk.
On this day, 253 members of staff walked out, the highest daily number during the strike, according to the NHS figures.
The hospitals were not moved out of OPEL 4 until the penultimate day of the strikes on January 8.
It was during the final days of the strike when patients suffered most.
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The highest number of postponed appointments, at 383, was recorded on January 8.
Sara Randall, the hospital trust’s chief operating officer, said: “Regrettably, we have had to postpone some routine procedures during the recent industrial action by junior doctors.
“We would like to apologise for any distress or inconvenience caused.
“We will be in touch with patients whose appointments or procedures were postponed to reschedule as soon as we possibly can.”
John Radcliffe and Horton were again moved into OPEL 4 on Monday (January 15) and only went down to OPEL 3 yesterday (Wednesday).
NHS leaders warned the impact caused by the strike could last for months.
NHS England’s national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said the national figure is likely higher than the 113,000 recorded.
He said medical leaders and frontline staff are concerned about rising flu cases and the cold weather causing increased hospitalisations.
Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, blamed the Government for failing to strike a deal with the doctors’ union.
She said: "Doctors, Junior Doctors, nurses, and other NHS staff work incredibly hard to keep us all safe and healthy.
“But they are overworked, over-tired, and underpaid.
“Junior doctors play a crucial role in delivering high-quality healthcare and it’s deeply disheartening that the government has failed to get round the table and resolve negotiations to safeguard our NHS.”
Ms Moran called for the Government to resolve the talks urgently.
“Without decent pay and conditions, it is becoming harder and harder to attract people to the service, and inspire the next generation of doctors, let alone retain those already working in the NHS,” she said.
“I know many local people will be concerned about the impact of the strikes on cancellations, putting yet more pressure on our already strained services.”
But the Conservatives claim the BMA will not come to the negotiating table.
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Tory MP for Banbury, Victoria Prentis, said: “I am very aware of the prolonged impact the industrial action is having on patient care.
“It is exactly for this reason that the Government agreed to enter into further talks with the BMA in good faith.
“From what I understand, these talks have been constructive. An agreement was found for consultants, which is now being put to members for a vote.
“It is extremely disappointing that, despite offering junior doctors a further pay lift on top of those recommended by the Independent Review Body, it was rejected.
“We all want to see an end to the industrial action.
“I remain hopeful that the BMA will re-join the Government at the negotiating table so a way forward can be found.”
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