THE impact of NHS strike action has been laid bare, with thousands of operations and hospital appointments cancelled, including those for cancer patients.

Latest Mid and South Essex NHS Trust board papers show 33,701 outpatient appointments have been cancelled due to industrial action by junior and senior doctors since April last year. The trust, which manages Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals also had to cancel approximately 4,599 inpatient and day case surgeries.

The papers show as a result of the latest December and January industrial action, 237 inpatient and day case surgeries and 2,087 outpatient appointments have had to be cancelled so far.

A report to the board said: "We will also have not booked patients in knowing that we can't fulfil the appointments during strikes, so the impact is likely to be higher. We have sadly had to postpone a very small number of cancer treatments since the strikes began.

"The decision would not have been made lightly and clinicians will review the patient's level of clinical need before making any decision to postpone. 477 inpatient and day case surgeries cancelled were cancer related from April and 3,385 outpatient appointments cancelled were cancer related appointments."

The trust said it is prioritising rebooking surgeries and appointments and is organising "catch up clinics" where necessary.

It added; "We deliberately don't book people in for strike days when we know we won't be able to fulfil those appointments, patients are booked in after, as we know we are likely to be able to retain that appointment and provide safe care."