NHS England said many more patients were coming forward for treatment and a doctors' strike in July left 50,000 appointments cancelled. The Royal College of Surgeons said the system was coming under severe strain and called for more money for new operating theatres in the autumn budget. "Crumbling hospital buildings are leading surgeons to have to compete for space, directly contributing to delays and leaving patients waiting for the care they need," said the organisation's vice president Prof Frank Smith.
Polling from More in Common indicates that support for the doctors' strikes has dropped significantly, going from -10% to -15% in just two weeks, reflecting public sentiment turning against the doctors' demands.
Kemi Badenoch has proposed working with the Labour government to address the militant doctors' strike but demands a reversal of Keir Starmer's key election pledge regarding pay rises.