Grieving Rotherham uncle 'disappointed' by Resident Doctors' decision to go on strike
They walked out last week - with the industrial action due to come to an end at 7am today
After 5 days of industrial action - a grieving South Yorkshire uncle tells us he's 'Disappointed' resident doctors have been on strike.
The walkout has been over a dispute about pay & working conditions.
Zaheer Ahmed's 5-year-old nephew - Yusuf Nazir - died in 2022 after getting sent home from Rotherham Hospital due to a 'lack of beds'.
Yusuf died 8 days later following a severe bout of tonsilitis.
He says the winter pressures are already straining the NHS too much - without the 'extra hurdles' brought on by strike action:
"Ultimately, the person that is going to suffer is the patient.
"It's going to be families like us who end up losing loved ones from all the delays and problems in the NHS.
"This time three years ago, we were facing similar circumstances; a lot of pressure on the NHS.
"Short staffing, not enough doctors, not enough beds available, and three years down the line we're in the same situation.
"At that time, it was nurses striking, and now it's Resident Doctors striking.
"It's a very bad time of year for the NHS - they're already under a lot of pressure without resources and staffing issues.
"There's a lot of different flu variations out there for children and adults too.
"I wish the Resident Doctors could've just sorted this out internally without letting the public suffer like this."
An inquest into Yusuf Nazir's death is due to take place in Sheffield early next year.