Officials fear NHS will be hit hard after resident doctors reject latest offer

"Hospitals are cancelling tens of thousands of appointments and operations after resident doctors voted overwhelmingly to reject a last-ditch government offer to avoid this week's strike. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, and the British Medical Association (BMA) are being urged to agree to see if an independent mediator can break the deadlock in the almost three-year-old pay and jobs dispute in England."

"They have had to reschedule an estimated 38,500 outpatient appointments and treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer. They also fear that consultant (senior) doctors will be too busy covering the work of their more junior colleagues during the strike to help hospitals undertake their traditional pre-Christmas clearout of patients who are well enough to leave, so they can give their beds to others who need to be admitted during the cold snap that usually causes problems during the festive season."

"The Patients Association called for third-party arbitration after resident doctors voted 83% to 17% against a deal the BMA called too little, too late. They had voted in a survey of opinion about an offer that, if accepted, would have led to the doctors union calling off their five-day walkout, which will now start as planned at 7am on Wednesday."

Resident doctors voted overwhelmingly against a government offer, prompting a planned five-day strike beginning at 7am on Wednesday. Hospitals have rescheduled an estimated 38,500 outpatient appointments and treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer. NHS leaders fear the strike will strain services during a fast-growing flu surge and hinder the usual pre-Christmas bed clearout as consultants cover junior doctors' duties. The BMA described the offer as insufficient. The Patients Association called for third-party arbitration and urged both parties to commit to independent mediation as the only credible path to protect patients and reach a lasting solution.

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