Overview
- NHS England said 94.7% of planned routine care went ahead during the 17–22 December walkout.
- Hospital bed occupancy on Christmas Day was 78.5%, with about 5,000 fewer inpatients than the previous year.
- An average of 19,120 resident doctors were absent per strike day, slightly higher than during November’s action.
- Media reported 3,167 inpatient elective procedures and more than 30,000 outpatient appointments were rescheduled in England during the strike.
- Wes Streeting reiterated that his door is open to talks with the BMA as leaders urged use of NHS 111 and flu vaccination, with 414,562 calls answered in Christmas week including 87,318 on 27 December.