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21/06/2012
Doctors Take First Industrial Action In Almost 40 Years
As doctors hold their first industrial dispute for nearly 40 years, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has condemned then for "penalising" patients in their pensions dispute.
Industrial action got under way at midnight with doctors across the UK boycotting non-urgent care.
Routine hospital appointments and non-emergency operations are being targeted while GPs are also taking part.
Mr Lansley said doctors were wrong to hit patient care, although the extent of the disruption is not yet clear.
He said the British Medical Association - the doctors' trade union - had failed to recognise economic and political realities.
Adding: "I can't see why anybody thinks there is any benefit in penalising patients. It won't serve any purpose whatsoever."
How much patients are affected, however, will depend on the number of doctors taking part and how rigorously they enforce the action.
Ahead of the action, some hospitals were saying fewer than 10% of bookings had been cancelled because doctors were still prepared to see patients.
(H)
Industrial action got under way at midnight with doctors across the UK boycotting non-urgent care.
Routine hospital appointments and non-emergency operations are being targeted while GPs are also taking part.
Mr Lansley said doctors were wrong to hit patient care, although the extent of the disruption is not yet clear.
He said the British Medical Association - the doctors' trade union - had failed to recognise economic and political realities.
Adding: "I can't see why anybody thinks there is any benefit in penalising patients. It won't serve any purpose whatsoever."
How much patients are affected, however, will depend on the number of doctors taking part and how rigorously they enforce the action.
Ahead of the action, some hospitals were saying fewer than 10% of bookings had been cancelled because doctors were still prepared to see patients.
(H)
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