Hospitals set to cancel 65,000 appointments this week as NHS reels from biggest ever strike

HOSPITAL bosses are expected to cancel 65,000 appointments this week as the NHS is rocked by its biggest strike ever.

Cancer treatments, surgeries and scans are being canceled as tens of thousands of nurses and ambulances went out together for the first time.

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In dozens of hospitals, 999 employees guarantee that they only take on the most critical jobs.

And the Royal College of Nursing continues the industrial action today.

Strikes four out of five days this week will cause “major disruption” as 20,000 workers were absent yesterday and 15,000 nurses today.

Physiotherapists will follow on Thursday and Unison ambulance crews on Friday.

NHS Providers’ Saffron Cordery said: “We are planning an incredibly disruptive week.”

Health Secretary Steve Barclay attended a Cobra meeting on the NHS yesterday.

He insisted that any pay increases will apply from April and will not be backdated to last year.

RCN boss Pat Cullen said: “Rishi Sunak is rapidly decaying the country’s favorite institution.”

She urged him to come to the negotiating table to “stop this action.”