Nearly 4,000 appointments and more than 450 procedures were postponed in hospitals around Suffolk due to the junior doctor strike last week. 

Tens of thousands of junior doctors staged a 96-hour strike in a dispute over pay between April 11 and 15, which had a severe impact on  scheduled hospital procedures and appointments. 

NHS England data showed 20,470 inpatient procedures had to be rescheduled, along with 175,755 outpatient appointments, making a total of 196,225 across England. 

Bury Mercury: Junior doctor strike at Ipswich Hospital, Charlotte BondJunior doctor strike at Ipswich Hospital, Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Figures for hospitals around Suffolk show that East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust rescheduled 183 procedures and 1,475 appointments, while West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust postponed 160 procedures and 1,257 appointments over the four days of the doctors strike. 

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had to reschedule 116 procedures and 1,152 appointments. 

 

There has been no data submitted on cancelled mental health and learning disability appointments at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Nick Hulme, the chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals, said: "Our focus was protecting urgent and emergency services, and this meant we had to reschedule a number of appointments and operations.  

Bury Mercury: Nick Hulme, the chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, NewsquestNick Hulme, the chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"This ensured we had the clinical staff available to keep urgent and emergency care and inpatient wards running safely. 

"Patients were contacted if their appointment needed to be rescheduled. We know how disappointing it was for patients who had their appointment rescheduled and we are rearranging the appointments as quickly as possible.  

"We realise some people have already been waiting a long time for treatment and, where possible, we worked hard to bring some operations forward rather than rescheduling to a later date." 

Bury Mercury: Junior doctor strike at Ipswich Hospital, Charlotte BondJunior doctor strike at Ipswich Hospital, Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Dr Paul Molyneux, medical director for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, added:“Throughout this week’s BMA junior doctor strikes, our focus is to maintain patient safety as well as supporting our junior doctor colleagues in their legal right to take industrial action.

“Our emergency department remains open, however, we are extremely busy and patients unfortunately may be waiting longer than usual during this period of industrial action."

Dr Andrew Kelso, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex medical director, had warned that the industrial action by junior doctors would have an impact on NHS services.

Dr Kelso, added: “While I recognise everyone’s right to strike, this latest action is going to have a significant impact on our patients, coming as it does on the back of an incredibly busy Easter holiday weekend.

“It’s going to be a very challenging few days, but if everyone does their bit, we can ensure the NHS in Suffolk and north east Essex is able to continue to look after the physical and mental health of local people.”