NHS strikes are “stalling” efforts to tackle the record backlog of care in the NHS, the Prime Minister has said.
Rishi Sunak said that he wanted to see junior doctors accept the pay deal on offer so “we can all get back to treating patients and getting those waiting lists down”.
It comes at the conclusion of the latest round of strikes by junior doctors in England.
On a visit to a hospital in Buckinghamshire, the Mr Sunak said: “I’m pleased that we’ve practically eliminated the number of people waiting two years. Earlier this year we practically eliminated the number of people waiting one-and-a-half years.
“Unfortunately, the progress that we were making has stalled because of the industrial action.”
He added that the NHS across the UK is “grappling with the aftermath” of Covid-19, and waiting lists in Labour-run Wales are “far higher than they are in England”.
The figure is the highest since records began in 2007.
Meanwhile health minister Will Quince insisted that negations with doctors on pay are over but said he is “open” to discuss other issues including working environments.
“And that’s despite the Government having accepted in full the recommendations of the independent Pay Review Body.
“Take junior doctors for example – we accepted the recommendation, which is an average of 8.8% (rise for average junior doctors) or 10.3% for new doctors just starting out in training.
“The Prime Minister has been really clear that the discussion on pay is now closed.
“My door remains open to discuss other issues around working environments and conditions, but pay is closed and I think that’s the right decision.”
NHS officials have suggested that the latest action will have led to thousands of appointments, operations and procedures being postponed.
Hospital consultants are set to stage their own strike later in the month.
“Steve Barclay has singularly failed to make any significant steps towards ending this dispute and, as he continues to posture and pontificate, the waiting list goes up and more patients see their treatment delayed.
“What he and the Prime Minister should be doing is getting back round the table with us to find a way of ending this dispute.”
