NHS hit by double blow this week as boss issues major warning

NHS chiefs are warning of "major disruption" due to the combination of the impending heatwave and the strike action by junior doctors.

With yellow heat health alerts effective across many regions, anticipated to last until 5pm on Thursday, services are bracing for impact. This is the same day when junior doctors, part of the British Medical Association (BMA) in England, plan to stage their eleventh walkout amid ongoing pay disputes.

The five-day strike is set against a backdrop of weather that's expected to become less favourable, but NHS leaders have already voiced concerns over the pressure exerted by the current heatwave. Amid these challenges, there's growing anxiety over how hospitals, especially those recovering from the effects of a cyber attack, will cope.

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Guy's and St Thomas' as well as King's College Hospital London remain at diminished operational levels following the cyber incident.

In an update provided by the BMA, a concession has been extended: certain senior junior doctors at specific trusts, including Lewisham and Greenwich, Guy's and St Thomas', and King's College Hospital, will be exempt from the strike. This measure aims to "prevent dangerous delays to cancer care".

Posting on X, it said: "To prevent dangerous delays to cancer care, we are granting a derogation for surgical registrars working on high-risk upper GI, head and neck, and lung cancers at three hospital trusts: Lewisham and Greenwich, Guys & St Thomas' and Kings College Hospital.

"This will help patients who have experienced dangerous delays to their care due to the difficulties of mitigation against the unplanned and malicious