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Thousands of operations cancelled despite junior doctors strike delay

Thousands of patients have had their appointments and operations cancelled despite the suspension of a planned three-day strike by junior doctors.

Strike action in England had been due to go ahead today, but was called off after a temporary agreement was reached between government officials, the British Medical Association (BMA) and NHS Employers.

Despite the last-minute deal the situation has led to major disruption to the NHS.

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Without junior doctors 'the NHS would collapse'

A senior consultant has suggested hospital departments may struggle to cope without junior doctors stating that without them "the NHS would collapse".

Speaking today as it was announced his colleagues had voted in favour of strike action Mr Hani Shuheibar, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Lancashire teaching hospitals, described junior doctors as the "backbone of the NHS" and crucial to workflow within departments.

Without the junior doctors this department would collapse, the NHS would collapse.

There's no question about it they are the backbone of the NHS.

– Hani Shuheibar
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Thousands of operations cancelled despite junior doctors strike delay

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