The NHS anticipates “major disruption” during the five-day walkout by English medical professionals over unpaid wages, which coincides with a heatwave advisory for yellow fever and continued service disruptions due to a ransomware cyberattack earlier this month.
Donia Youssef, a cancer survivor, undergoes annual colonoscopies; however, her most recent one was canceled due to prior industrial action by younger doctors.
Donia, an Essex resident from Grays, stated: “I was on the list, and as a mother of two small children, it’s concerning.” It was canceled. For the first time since the strikes. I didn’t hear from them again after that. So I persisted. Nothing.
It was just more waiting around. All I could do was wait.
[They stated]: “A backlog exists.” We will respond to you. They’re working through the backlog. If there are any cancellations, we’ll notify you.
like months have passed. Nothing. I finally made the decision to pay as the symptoms were getting worse.
Donia paid for private treatment, which she could hardly afford, since she was so afraid that her health might deteriorate. And now that she has survived cancer, she feels fear every time there is another wave of attacks.
I become afraid. I am unable to receive [therapy] on a private basis, and much of it is very costly. That’s why it’s scary. That’s why you’re always aware, she said.
