Cancer patient says 'it's terrifying' as doctors walk out during heatwave and cyber attack fallout

A cancer patient has told Sky News it's "terrifying" for her health that junior doctors are striking again from Thursday.

The NHS is expecting "major disruption" during the five-day strike as medics in England walk out over pay amid a yellow health alert heatwave and ongoing disruption to some services because of a ransomware cyber attack earlier this month.

Major hospitals Guys' and St Thomas' and King's in London are still running at reduced capacity after the incident.

Cancer survivor Donia Youssef has annual colonoscopies but her last was cancelled because of previous industrial action by junior doctors.

Donia, from Grays in Essex, said: "It's a worry as a mum with two young children and I was on the list. It got cancelled. First time because of the strikes. And after that I didn't hear from them. So I kept pushing. Nothing. It was just more delays. I was just kept waiting.

"[They said]: 'There's a backlog. We'll get back to you. There's a backlog, they're getting through. We'll let you know if there's any cancellations.'"

"It's like months later. Nothing. So eventually, because the symptoms are getting worse, I decided to pay."

Donia was so scared of her health worsening she paid for private treatment, a cost she could barely afford. And now, as a cancer survivor, every time there's a fresh round of strikes she is filled with dread.

"I get scared. I can't get [treatment] on the private and a lot of it's really expensive. So, yeah, it's terrifying. So you're constantly aware," she said.

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Source: Sky News, 27 June 2024