Thousands of procedures cancelled in doctors’ strike

THOUSANDS of patients had medical procedures cancelled yesterday during the first strike by doctors in almost 40 years.

Around 3650 procedures were cancelled across Scotland, with 60 per cent of GP surgeries affected by the action.

But doctors said only “a small number” of patients arrived at hospital to find operations had been called off and added that some were operated on by those participating in the strike.

The strike was called over pension reforms that the British Medical Association (BMA) said would force doctors to work for an extra three years.

Dr Lewis Morrison, of BMA’s Scottish Consultants Committee, said: “This was about showing we are serious in our opposition to these unfair and unjust pension changes.”

But Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson criticised the Scottish Government for not doing more to prevent the strike and said: “Ms Sturgeon had the opportunity to reflect the view of patients and the public in Scotland by condemning this. She failed to do this.”