NHS leaders are warning that hospitals could end up over-crowded on Thursday as they struggle to release patients because of the junior doctor’s strike. The NHS managed to cope well on Wednesday, the first day of the strike, after the Doctor’s walkout from 08:00am. However, NHS England said the second day of the 48-hour walkout in England was expected to be more demanding. Over 5,000 operations had to be cancelled.

Emergency cover has been provided during the walkout, which ends on Friday morning. Consultants, nurses and midwives have all been working in hospital as normal. GP surgeries haven’t really been affected. On Wednesday over half the number of junior doctors expected to work did not turn up because of the strike. The latest walkout is the third, but the first to last 48 hours.

By Harry (Age 12).