Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, which runs Newark and King’s Mill Hospitals, reveals impact of junior doctors’ strike action

More than 500 patients were affected by a junior doctor strike at the trust that runs Newark Hospital last month.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust , which also runs King’s Mill and Mansfield Community hospitals, says 507 people had appointments affected by the action in June.

The strike, by members of the British Medical Association, came in a longstanding row between union bosses and ministers over pay.

Members of the BMA walked out for 72 hours between June 14 and June 17 in the third round of industrial action.

Now the trust has confirmed it rescheduled 451 outpatient appointments during this period and 56 elective inpatient procedures were also moved.

It says the decision to reschedule the appointments during the strike action was taken to prioritise safe urgent and emergency care.

Hospital trusts are preparing for a fourth round of BMA strike action later this month when junior doctors will walk out from July 13-18.

This will then be followed by strike action by NHS consultants on Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21.

The trust says it is already preparing for this industrial action and has thanked hospital staff for their efforts last month.

In a report, Paul Robinson, the trust’s chief executive, said: “We recognise the importance of good pay and conditions in making great patient care happen across our hospitals.”

In the most recent board of directors meeting on Thursday (July 6) he added: “We continue to prepare and respond to periods of industrial action.

“Thank you to our colleagues for their response and for going above and beyond to keep patients safe.

“The report explains the cost of the action in terms of rescheduled appointments. We hope for a swift conclusion.

“However, we’re now preparing for a further round of junior doctors’ action between July 13-18 and, for the first time, consultants taking action the following week.”

It follows the trust also reporting hundreds of appointments and operations being cancelled or rescheduled as a result of previous industrial action.

It’s as the BMA, which is organising both the junior doctors’ and consultants’ strike action this month, says the walkouts are not inevitable.

Both strikes are the result of what it describes as real-terms pay cuts over the past decade putting the future of the NHS at risk.

“Strike action is not inevitable and it is well within the Government’s gift to present us with a reasonable offer that would stop industrial action in its tracks,” the union said.

“This isn’t just about pay – it’s about protecting the future of the NHS.

“If we sit by and accept further real-terms pay cuts we risk losing more of our most senior and experienced clinicians at a time when the NHS and patients need them most.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We hugely value the work of NHS consultants and it is disappointing the BMA consultants have voted to take strike action.

“Consultants received a 4.5% pay uplift last financial year, increasing average earnings to around £128,000, and they will benefit from generous changes to pension taxation announced at budget.

“Strikes are hugely disruptive for patients and put pressure on other NHS staff.

“We’ve been engaging with the BMA consultants committee on their concerns already and stand ready to open talks again – we urge them to come to the negotiating table rather than proceeding with their proposed strike dates.

“We urge the BMA to carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients.”