Health

Sam Peate, from the NHS Humber Health Partnership, which has hospitals in Goole and Hull that will be affected by the strike, said: “Unfortunately, it is unavoidable that some patients will have their appointments and procedures postponed as a result of the action.”

In England, where there are 1,821 sonographers, vacancy rates have doubled since 2019 – from 12% to 24%, their analysis found. In the south east of England, 38% of posts were vacant, with 30% vacant in the North West. Only 11% were unfilled in the North East and Yorkshire.

Children’s commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza and Department for Education scientific adviser Prof Russell Viner have reviewed the latest evidence, finding that long periods of time spent on screens alone can affect children’s sleep and physical activity, which are key to their development.