Continued strikes by doctors are having a "draining impact" at Harrogate District Hospital, according to its boss.
Strikes having a 'draining impact' at Harrogate hospital Continued strikes by doctors are having a “draining impact” at Harrogate District Hospital, according to its boss. Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust, was speaking at a meeting of the trust’s board in Harrogate on Wednesday afternoon. Junior doctors who are part of the British Medical Association union staged two seperate walk-outs between December 20-23 and January 3-9. These have followed around 12 months of other strikes and took place at a time when the hospital is already under pressure due to seasonal viruses like flu and covid. It led to 370 appointments being cancelled and rescheduled with cancer treatments particularly affected. Mr Coulter said there was “understandable anxiety” about the challenges faced by the NHS this winter. He said:
“It’s not just the time but the draining impact on the organisation. It’s fair to say it’s becoming more strained. "The junior doctors are reballotting for further potential industrial action next week and there is a significant amount of uncertainty.”Between December and January’s strikes, an average of 65% of the junior doctors in Harrogate were on strike with some of their roles covered internally by consultants. But Mr Coulter insisted staffing levels had improved when compared with the winter of 2022/23. He said:
“It was better here than last year and the organisation has managed through winter.”A long-term problem at the Lancaster Park Road hospital is staff being unable to discharge healthy patients as they are wait to be placed into a care home or home. As of last week (1st February), there were 60 patients of these patients, although some were able to be discharged as the day progressed. By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
New exhibition opens to mark 200 years of Harrogate's first hospital
Harrogate Brewing Co celebrates first anniversary on Royal Parade
Lightwater Valley set to introduce another new attraction
Harrogate to host new event for book lovers this weekend
Harrogate MP calls for crackdown on 'effectively decriminalised' phone thefts
Harrogate disability charity launches fundraising drive for new centre
Harrogate GP set to be elected town's new Mayor
Harrogate's Ibiza Symphonica drops Scott Mills from lineup
'Inspirational' schoolgirl donates hair to help children in need
Harrogate dog lovers invited to volunteer as puppy trainers
Police appeal after Harrogate man assaulted at home
Morrisons opens 'Asian Corner' at Harrogate store
New ward-based library introduced at Harrogate Hospital
Harrogate care home donates £1,000 to charity battling loneliness
Builders unearth medieval well in Ripon city centre
Knaresborough teacher to run London Marathon in aid of Henshaws
Drugs seized and two arrested in Knaresborough
Spiegeltent returns to Harrogate for summer extravaganza
Starbeck festival set to return for third year
Police appeal to locate Harrogate fuel thief
