Strike fails to stop NHS looking after almost all patients

NHS England says that more than 95% of planned treatment went ahead during a five-day strike by resident doctors.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive, NHS Providers, said:

"If part of the object of the strike was to bring the NHS grinding to a halt it failed.

"Almost all patients' planned care went ahead, a great testament to the planning and hard work by NHS trust leaders and staff who kept vital services going throughout the walkout. 

"That means, though, that far too many appointments, tests, scans and operations had to be postponed with an inevitable knock-on effect on waiting lists.

"We're not out of the woods yet with a tough winter ahead and any more strikes, as threatened, will just cost more money, time and energy.  We hope that further talks between the doctors' union and government will avert any more walkouts which hurt patients and the public purse."