Doctors’ strike hits thousands of patients

Striking doctors faced fury yesterday as thousands of patients in London saw appointments postponed. Nearly 500 elective operations, such as knee or hip replacements, were cancelled at hospitals in the capital, as well as more than 3,100 hospital outpatient appointments, according to initial reports. One hospital said to be affected was Guy’s and St Thomas’. However, support among the medical profession for the strike appeared to be crumbling, with more doctors turning up for work than predicted. It had been expected that about a third of GPs would join the British Medical Association-led industrial action, the first since 1975, over pension reforms. But the early figures suggested that only 17% of GP practices in London were affected. Many doctors — faced with public anger — appear to have decided in recent days against striking. A distraught mother seeking an appointment for her sick son claimed she was turned away by a surgery in Hackney. “I don’t think it’s right that GPs should be allowed to strike,” said Jonnelle Sandiford. “Surely there’s another way of doing this without patients suffering.” She told how she had been “up half the night” with her eight-year-old son Tyrelle, who she said was suffering from a fever, headache and boils. The BMA had stressed that while routine operations and appointments might be postponed, urgent cases would be dealt with during the day. But doctors, MPs and patients condemned the action. London-based cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra said: “This is primarily about doctor’s pensions at a time of austerity when other people are facing financial hardship. It’s an own goal for the BMA.” MPs even suggested ministers should now look at further cuts to medics’ “gold-plated” pensions, which are far higher than those for millions of workers in the public and private sectors. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has stressed that doctors will still be able to retire on a pension of £68,000 a year, though they will have to work longer and pay higher contributions. But the most immediate concern was whether patients were suffering because of the doctors’ actions. Sandiford said she tried to get an appointment for her son at the Lawson Practice in Hackney yesterday morning while he was being cared for at home by a relative. “But they told me to come back tomorrow,” said the housing worker. Dr Deborah Colvin at the Lawson Practice insisted the action was supported by some patients. She said: “We pay double what civil servants pay for the same pension and the government wants us to pay more. I’m doing this on behalf of younger GPs. The patients are completely behind us.” But Lansley said yesterday: “I can’t see why anybody thinks there is any benefit in penalising patients. It won’t serve any purpose whatsoever.”