THE government must step in, the NHS Confederation has said after strikes costing the service at least £1.4 billion have left trust leaders facing “impossible” choices over allocating resources this winter. 

The body representing trust leaders in England and Wales said it needs extra funding to cover the rising costs of industrial action and other pressures.

Leaders warned that without extra funding they will be forced to restrict the number of extra beds this winter to deal with expected higher demand for care and slow progress on cutting down record 7.75 million-strong waiting lists in England.