The NHS is coping well with the doctors’ strike in England, the head of the health service says.
In a letter to health managers, NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey said while it was still early days in the six-day strike, which began on Tuesday, the NHS was in « as good a place as we could hope » after the first day.
Resident doctors – the new name for junior doctors – are taking part in their 15th walkout in the long-running pay dispute.
The British Medical Association said the strike was « regrettable », but blamed the government for failing to put forward a credible offer.
Resident doctors make up nearly half the medical workforce – although a third of them are not BMA members.
To cope, hospitals have drafted senior doctors in to provide cover in emergency and urgent care.
But that has meant some pre-planned operations and treatments have had to be cancelled, although the NHS said the majority were still taking place.
In his letter, Sir Jim said it was « tough for staffing picking up the strain » and the walkout had been « deliberately time to cause havoc » after the Easter weekend.
« I know how disruptive and challenging it’s been for many hospitals to manage it and fill their rotas following the Easter weekend.
« There’s a long way to go, but it looks like we’re in as good a place as we could hope on day one. »
The latest walkout comes after talks with the government broke down last month.
Despite receiving pay rises worth 33% over the past four years, the BMA argues doctors are still being paid a fifth less than they were in 2008 once inflation is taken into account.
BMA resident doctor leader Dr Jack Fletcher said it was « regrettable » that strike action had been taken again and he was « sorry » for the disruption caused.
But he added: « These strikes were entirely avoidable. If we keep treating doctors as an inconvenience rather than an asset, we will end up with an NHS that simply doesn’t have enough doctors. »
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said resident doctors had been offered a « generous deal ». Alongside the pay rises they have had, the government also said it would expand training places and cover out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees.
On the latest round of strikes, he said: « People and patients are understandably fed up. »
Latest polling from YouGov shows a majority of the public are opposed to the doctor walkouts.
Meanwhile, Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch said she would ban doctors going on strike « as we already do for the police and armed forces ».
« Labour has chosen the unions over patients, » she said.
