The Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee has questioned the impact strikes are having on the Government's Urgent and Emergency Care Plan and the wider NHS network.
During a session of Oral Questions to the Department for Health and Social Care, the Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP raised his concern with the Secretary of State, Stephen Barclay. Highlighting the Plan's ambition to stabilise services over the next two-years and also bringing a return to the A&E target.
Steve Brine asked : "I just wonder what assessment he's made of the impact of ongoing industrial dispute, among the Agenda for Change cohort and of course the junior doctors, is having on the delivery of that UEC."
Emphasising the work of Sir Jim Mackey and Professor Tim Briggs, which has seen significant progress in terms of elective recovery and fulfilling the targets set out in the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, the Secretary of State acknowledged the lessons learnt so far.
Speaking about the impact of the strikes he said : "[They are] clearly having an impact in terms of patients and cancellations and that is why we've been working very constructively with the NHS Staff Council, UNISON obviously voted by a majority of 74% to support the deal, there are further votes this week from other key trade unions and then a decision of the NHS Staff Council on 2nd May and obviously that is extremely important to addressing the concern that he highlights."
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