Almost a million NHS appointments postponed during eight months of strike action

The NHS saw 45 827 acute inpatient and outpatient appointments rescheduled during the latest round of industrial action by consultants in England, data1 show.

In total, almost a million (944 470) appointments across acute, mental health, ambulance, and community services have been postponed in England because of industrial action since last December, including 885 154 acute appointments.

During the latest two day walkout by consultants on 24 and 25 August, the number of staff absent from work because of strikes peaked on 24 August at 6560, NHS England said.

NHS England’s national medical director Stephen Powis said, “Industrial action continues to have a huge impact on …