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30
Nov 2023
Harrogate hospital says strikes ‘significantly impacting’ cancer treatment
The boss of Harrogate District Hospital says improving its record in delivering timely cancer treatment is being made more difficult due to doctors going on strike.
Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust, made the comments in papers published ahead of the organisation’s board meeting in Harrogate yesterday.
Mr Coulter admitted the hospital was facing challenges in delivering the “standard that we would want to” but added that several waves of industrial action have taken their toll.
Across England and Wales more than one million treatments and appointments have been cancelled due to the strikes with waits for cancer treatment being particularly affected.
NHS England says a patient should start treatment within 31 days of an urgent cancer diagnosis and referral by a GP.
Statistics published by the hospital reveal 9 in 10 patients are receiving treatment within this target.
However, after 62 days since a referral, only 7 in 10 patients have begun treatment.
Mr Coulter added:
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Both consultants and junior doctors took part in industrial action at the hospital in the first week of October.
The BBC reported this week that a fresh pay offer has been made to NHS consultants which could end future strike action.
The government is also in negotiation with junior doctors although a deal has not yet been agreed.
Mr Coulter added:
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