New health secretary ‘optimistic’ she can end crippling NHS doctors’ strikes

THE new health secretary says she is “optimistic” and will push to end crippling doctors’ strikes.

Victoria Atkins vowed to tackle the pay row with the British Medical Association in a meeting with the NHS boss on her first day in the job.

Ms Atkins told a conference of NHS managers today: “I’m acutely aware of how the strikes have disrupted patient care.

 “I’m committed to getting around the table, because I want to see a fair and reasonable resolution.”

Consultant and junior doctors’ strikes are currently on hold for pay talks after nine months of industrial action.

Hospital bosses say the threat of more walkouts during the difficult winter is a “major fear”.

NHS CEO Amanda Pritchard said: “It will be unsurprising to know that one of the first things we talked about was industrial action.

“We have called on all sides to work together to find a resolution.”

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting added: “I think the only way the new health secretary is going to do better than the last one is if she is empowered by Number 10 and the Treasury.

“Let’s hope for the sake of patients and staff that we get a resolution to these strikes which are doing enormous damage.”

NHS strikes have this year led to more than a million appointment cancellations and around a month of lost labour.

Professor Phil Banfield, of the BMA, said: “We hope Victoria Atkins' appointment and words are followed by swift action, which is not something we have always experienced with previous health secretaries.”