Hospitals in England cancel 88,000 appointments in seven weeks due to strikes

NHS leaders warn disruption to patients could become even worse as healthcare staff plan further strikes

Hospitals in England have had to cancel 88,000 appointments because of strikes by nurses and ambulance staff over the last seven weeks, figures have revealed.

NHS bosses warned on Tuesday that the already “shocking scale of disruption” to patient care could “skyrocket” in coming weeks as unions intensify their campaign and walkouts over pay become commonplace.