Newly released NHS statistics have revealed 3,795 appointments were rescheduled across three Southwark hospital trusts due to the junior doctors’ strike.
Thousands of trainee physicians downed their stethoscopes from January 3 to January 9 in a bid to secure a 35 per cent pay rise from the government.
Data compiled by the News showed there were 253 daily staff absences on average across Guy’s and St Thomas’ (GSTT) Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital (KCH) Foundation Trust.
The South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) said the hospitals were “extremely busy” and that it had drafted in holidaying consultants to take on extra shifts.
The statistics outline the huge pressures GSTT, KCH and South London and Maudsley (SLaM) faced during the gruelling six-day strike.
At GSTT, 2,539 outpatient appointments were rescheduled, 1,154 at KCH and 102 at SLaM.
GSTT saw an average of 277 daily staff absences, with that number reaching 353 on Friday, January 5.
At KCH, the average daily absence rate was 230 but soaring to 345 on Wednesday, January 3.
SLaM saw an average daily staff absence was 97 reaching a peak of 168 on the first day of industrial action.
52 elective procedures – meaning operations booked in advance – were rescheduled across GSTT and SLaM.
A spokesperson for the NHS South East London ICB said: “This last period of industrial action has been a difficult one for the NHS in south east London.
“The longest strike in NHS history has come at a time when we are also seeing increased rates of flu and other seasonal infections – which affect staff as well as the general public – adding to pressure on all of our services.
“South East London NHS Trusts have, as in all previous rounds of industrial action, worked exceptionally hard to make sure that services are maintained and patients are kept safe.”
They added: “In our emergency departments, some days have been extremely busy, and waiting times have varied. We would like to thank the public for making use of the full range of NHS services.”