Patients could be forced to spend Christmas in hospital due to strikes – Atkins
Strikes by junior doctors in England will mean that some patients will not be sent home from hospital in time to spend Christmas with their loved ones, the Health Secretary has said.
Victoria Atkins echoed concerns from leading health and patient organisations, who warned patients could be left “stranded” in wards over Christmas due to the industrial action.
Ms Atkins said she wanted to reach a “fair and reasonable” settlement with doctors in training – who began their 72-hour strike at 7am on December 20.
Ms Atkins told broadcasters she wanted to address doctors’ concerns, but added: “I cannot do that if they’re on the picket line, rather than in hospitals looking after patients.”
She continued: “We also must
