NHS trusts accused of exaggerating staff shortages to weaken impact of strike

BMA claims hospitals in England trying to ‘manipulate’ exemption requests to get junior doctors to return

Hospitals are exaggerating how short-staffed they are to try to get junior doctors to break their strike and return to work, according to the British Medical Association.

The doctors’ union has accused NHS trusts of trying to “manipulate” the agreed process for how hospitals can ask striking medics to work in order to protect patients’ safety.