Doctor strikes in November raise patient safety concerns

NHS patients in England face cancelled appointments, delayed treatment and potential safety risks as consultants prepare to strike on 25 and 26 November.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said consultants will provide emergency cover during the strike period, similar to Christmas Day staffing arrangements, while non-urgent services are expected to be reduced or postponed.

While the reasons behind the dispute centre on pay, working conditions and workforce sustainability, the consequences for patients cannot be ignored. Patient safety risks can arise when healthcare services are stretched beyond their normal capacity.

Consultants play a critical role within the NHS. In addition to providing specialist clinical care, they oversee complex decision-making, supervise junior doctors, lead multidisciplinary teams and support the delivery of elective services. When consultant availability is reduced, hospitals must rapidly reorganise services to maintain safe care. Although NHS organisations have extensive contingency plans, periods of disruption can increase pressure on remaining staff and services.

The impact of consultant strikes

One of the most immediate consequences is the postponement of elective procedures and outpatient appointments. Delays in treatment can have significant implications for patients whose conditions may deteriorate while awaiting review or intervention. In some cases, delays may result in missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis or treatment, potentially affecting long-term outcomes.

Patient safety concerns also extend beyond the strike dates themselves. Healthcare providers often experience a backlog of appointments, investigations and procedures following industrial action. This creates additional operational pressures and increases the risk of administrative errors, including delayed referrals, missed follow-up appointments or failures to communicate test results. While many issues are resolved without harm, they also commonly feature in clinical negligence claims when systems become overstretched.

The impact on vulnerable patients warrants particular attention. Individuals awaiting cancer investigations, cardiac procedures, neurological assessments or other time-sensitive treatments may experience heightened anxiety and uncertainty. Although urgent and emergency care remains a priority, distinguishing between routine and urgent cases is not always straightforward. Effective triage and communication are therefore essential to minimise risk.

The state of the NHS

The strikes also highlight a broader patient safety issue that predates industrial action.

The concerns raised by consultants regarding workload, burnout and workforce retention directly relate to the ability of the NHS to deliver safe care. Excessive workloads and staffing shortages have long been recognised as contributing factors in medical errors, delayed diagnoses and reduced continuity of care. In that sense, the dispute raises important questions about the long-term sustainability of the healthcare workforce and its impact on patient outcomes.

For healthcare providers, the focus must remain on robust risk management, clear communication with patients and effective contingency planning. For patients, understanding any changes to appointments or treatment plans and seeking clarification where necessary will be essential.

Protecting patients during NHS strikes

Ultimately, the November consultant strikes remind us that patient safety and workforce wellbeing are closely linked. While every effort will be made to protect urgent and emergency services, the disruption caused by industrial action creates risks that healthcare organisations must carefully manage.

From a clinical negligence perspective, it’s important not only that service disruption is kept to a minimum, but that systems remain sufficiently safe to prevent avoidable harm to patients.

Anyone concerned that their condition will be impacted by the upcoming strikes should contact their healthcare team promptly or seek urgent medical advice where necessary, rather than waiting for a rescheduled appointment. Patients who believe a delay or failure in their care has caused them harm may wish to seek independent advice about their options.