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Disruption to patients 'more limited than feared' | Disruption to patients 'more limited than feared' |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
Patients have had appointments and surgery cancelled due to industrial action by doctors but the total impact appears more limited than feared. | Patients have had appointments and surgery cancelled due to industrial action by doctors but the total impact appears more limited than feared. |
British Medical Association members across the UK have been boycotting non-urgent care in a dispute over pensions. | British Medical Association members across the UK have been boycotting non-urgent care in a dispute over pensions. |
The government said NHS figures suggested 10% of hospital patients in England had had care cancelled, while a quarter of GP practices were affected. | The government said NHS figures suggested 10% of hospital patients in England had had care cancelled, while a quarter of GP practices were affected. |
But the union said the intention of the day was never to maximise disruption. | But the union said the intention of the day was never to maximise disruption. |
In the lead-up to the day of action, the BMA leadership was always clear that doctors would turn up for work and ensure emergency and urgent services would run. | In the lead-up to the day of action, the BMA leadership was always clear that doctors would turn up for work and ensure emergency and urgent services would run. |
This has meant that GP surgeries, A&E units and maternity departments were always going to remain open while tests for conditions such as cancer would still take place. | This has meant that GP surgeries, A&E units and maternity departments were always going to remain open while tests for conditions such as cancer would still take place. |
Warnings | Warnings |
But as the day of action has progressed it has become clear many doctors have also carried on seeing non-urgent patients - in fact the government said it believed only 8% of doctors took part. | But as the day of action has progressed it has become clear many doctors have also carried on seeing non-urgent patients - in fact the government said it believed only 8% of doctors took part. |
It said the impact of this in England was that 2,700 non-emergency operations had to be cancelled and nearly 19,000 hospital appointments were put back - which in both cases amounts to a tenth of the workload. | It said the impact of this in England was that 2,700 non-emergency operations had to be cancelled and nearly 19,000 hospital appointments were put back - which in both cases amounts to a tenth of the workload. |
About 2,000 GP surgeries - a quarter of the total - also took part by seeing only patients with urgent illnesses or injuries. | About 2,000 GP surgeries - a quarter of the total - also took part by seeing only patients with urgent illnesses or injuries. |
The government figures are supported by information released by local NHS trusts. | The government figures are supported by information released by local NHS trusts. |
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Elsewhere in the UK, the number of hospital cancellations was similar. | Elsewhere in the UK, the number of hospital cancellations was similar. |
However, in Scotland more GP practices seem to have been affected with the government saying about 60% of centres took part. | However, in Scotland more GP practices seem to have been affected with the government saying about 60% of centres took part. |
But the BMA warned that the government figures needed to be treated with caution. | But the BMA warned that the government figures needed to be treated with caution. |
It said feedback from its members suggested that there was greater disruption with up to a quarter of non-urgent care affected. | It said feedback from its members suggested that there was greater disruption with up to a quarter of non-urgent care affected. |
Nonetheless, the picture contrasts with warnings from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in the lead-up to the action. | Nonetheless, the picture contrasts with warnings from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in the lead-up to the action. |
He said many of the 30,000 non-emergency operations, including knee and hip operations, 200,000 hospital appointments and 1.25m visits to GP surgeries in England could be hit. | He said many of the 30,000 non-emergency operations, including knee and hip operations, 200,000 hospital appointments and 1.25m visits to GP surgeries in England could be hit. |
But patients who have been affected were angry. | |
Mark Catterall, from Poole, Dorset, told the BBC: "I've had an operation cancelled and now it looks like it will be August at the earliest. | Mark Catterall, from Poole, Dorset, told the BBC: "I've had an operation cancelled and now it looks like it will be August at the earliest. |
"I think they [doctors] live in a bubble and really need to look at the bigger picture." | "I think they [doctors] live in a bubble and really need to look at the bigger picture." |
Argument | Argument |
Mr Lansley said doctors had been wrong to "penalise" patients. | Mr Lansley said doctors had been wrong to "penalise" patients. |
But he added: "In the run-up to these strikes our objective has been to minimise disruption for patients. | But he added: "In the run-up to these strikes our objective has been to minimise disruption for patients. |
"We asked doctors to recognise that their quarrel was not with patients but with the government. | "We asked doctors to recognise that their quarrel was not with patients but with the government. |
"I am pleased that a significant majority of doctors have done just that and maintained services for their patients." | "I am pleased that a significant majority of doctors have done just that and maintained services for their patients." |
BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said the action should not be judged solely on the impact felt by patients - because it fell short of a full strike. | BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said the action should not be judged solely on the impact felt by patients - because it fell short of a full strike. |
"It has never surprised me that when it came to the crunch a lot of doctors do not want to take this out on patients." | "It has never surprised me that when it came to the crunch a lot of doctors do not want to take this out on patients." |
The BMA has argued the government is wrong to try to change the current arrangements because a new deal was only agreed in 2008. | The BMA has argued the government is wrong to try to change the current arrangements because a new deal was only agreed in 2008. |
It has pointed out that the current scheme is bringing in a surplus of £2bn a year and under the new plans they are being asked to contribute much more than other high earners in the public sector. | It has pointed out that the current scheme is bringing in a surplus of £2bn a year and under the new plans they are being asked to contribute much more than other high earners in the public sector. |
Under the plans, doctors will be asked to work for longer - until 68 - and contribute more of their pay. | Under the plans, doctors will be asked to work for longer - until 68 - and contribute more of their pay. |
But ministers have insisted the changes, which apply to England and Wales but could be introduced elsewhere in the UK, are necessary. | But ministers have insisted the changes, which apply to England and Wales but could be introduced elsewhere in the UK, are necessary. |
Will you be affected by the industrial action? Will you be taking part? Send us your views using the form below. | Will you be affected by the industrial action? Will you be taking part? Send us your views using the form below. |