Prepare now for indefinite doctors' strikes, head of NHS warns

Laura Donnelly, Health Editor 28 April 2016 • 6:19pm

Simon Stevens, head of the NHS Credit: Joe Giddens/PA

Hospitals have been told to prepare for indefinite strike action by junior doctors in a letter from the head of the NHS.

Simon Stevens has warned trusts to start disaster planning and warned that some hospital services may have to close if strikes continue.

He also warned that pressures caused by this week's strike, which delayed care for 125,000 patients would have "spillover consequences" increasing pressure on hospitals in coming weeks.

Mr Stevens has asked every NHS trust to draw up contingency plans to work out how it would cope in the event of "intensified and extended" industrial action.

Last week leaked emails revealed that members of the British Medical Association's junior doctors' committee are discussing indefinite strikes.

The letter from Mr Stevens, and from Jim Mackey, the head of the NHS regulator, warns of potentially devastating consequences of such action, which would have "wide-ranging impacts" on patients.

Junior doctors protest at the hospital site of the Secret Cinema production of 28 Days Later, in London earlier this month Credit: Joe Pepler/Rex

Praising the NHS response to this week's walkout, it states: “There will also be spillover consequences, with over 125,000 patients having had their needed care deferred from this week into the days and weeks ahead.

“Unfortunately it also appears that further industrial action is possible, including the possibility floated by the BMA of a full and indefinite withdrawal of junior doctor labour. This would clearly have wide ranging impacts on patients. If drawn out for an extended period, there would likely be major implications for elective care and urgent care and the ability of hospitals to keep certain departments and services running.”

The letter, seen by Health Service Journal, says trusts should follow their statutory obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act to “assess and prepare for this possibility and other operational scenarios”.

It warns: “To this end, we are writing to ask you to refresh your local contingency plans in the next fortnight to consider the action you would need to take should intensified and extended industrial action occur. Specifically we would like you to consider how you would respond in the event of an indefinite withdrawal of junior doctor labour for 24 hour emergency and elective care, for 24 hour elective care only and for 12 hour emergency care.”