Cancer Patients Could Die Early If England's Strikes Carry On: Experts

On August 11, 2023, a protest was held by junior doctors in Whitehall, London, to protest against their pay rates and working conditions. Experts have cautioned that the ongoing dispute between the doctors and the government could have grave consequences, including premature deaths for cancer patients in England if a resolution isn't reached soon. The persistent strikes over the past year have led to numerous scheduling disruptions, impacting hospitals' staff availability and resulting in the postponement of many, including thousands of cancer-related appointments.

Reported data, obtained under the freedom of information laws, indicated that around 36,000 cancer-specific appointments were pushed back from December 2022, when the strikes commenced, up to September 2023, as per findings published in the Guardian. The delay in treatment was not only prevalent but recurring, with thousands of patients experiencing at least three delays over the year due to the strikes.

The postponement is notably perilous for patients with "less survivable" cancers such as lung, brain, pancreatic, liver, oesophageal, and stomach. The survival rate for individuals diagnosed with these cancer types was already low prior to the strikes, according to cancer specialists.

Anna Jewell, Chairperson of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, remarked that most advanced types of cancers are already challenging to treat, especially if diagnosed at a late stage. She stated, "This disruption to patient care could severely impact life expectancy for individuals diagnosed with a less survivable cancer. The present situation is critical for thousands who run the risk of having their treatments delayed or cancelled due to the Health Service's reduced capacity." She thus urged the government and union leaders to reach an agreement swiftly.

Several doctors in the country, in the midst of their six-day strike, have joined this prolonged walkout, the longest in the history of England's public health system, the National Health Service (NHS). Junior doctors, essential staff across hospital departments are part of the striking workforce, advocating for improved pay and working conditions across the country's overstretched medical workforce.

Subscribed to the argument that the pay demands from the group are excessive, the ministers have rejected the claims. Matthew Taylor, CEO of the NHS Confederation, earlier warned that the strikes presents a “significant” risk to NHS patients.

Sir Julian Hartley, CEO of the hospital industry group NHS Providers, noted that the staff, already coping with critical shortages and a surge in winter illnesses, are under tremendous pressure. He added, "With more than 121,000 job vacancies across NHS trusts in England, staff morale has dipped due to heavy workloads.” He urged for an immediate resolution to the extended pay dispute for the well-being of both the staff and the patients.