NHS leaders say they are very worried that a planned walkout by junior doctors next week will take the disruption caused by recent strikes to the next level, posing a risk to patient safety and setting back work to bear down on care backlogs.
The Shelford Group has come together with the leaders of NHS Providers and NHS Confederation to express concerns over the likely impact of the 72-hours of industrial action that is due to get under way on Monday.
A joint statement, issued by Will Warburton, Shelford Group Managing Director, alongside Chief Executive of NHS Providers, Sir Julian Hartley, and the Chief Executive of NHS Confederation, Matthew Taylor, welcomes the recent talks involving government and trade unions aimed at resolving differences and averting further industrial action. However there is no similar dialogue yet between government and doctors, and the statement calls on all sides to realise the harm a strike will do.
The statement points out that there is still time to head off industrial action, urging them to start talks with a reminder that patients deserve nothing less.
The joint statement says:
“We have seen encouraging signs of engagement from the government and unions to resolve differences and avert further industrial action in the NHS. The strikes have already affected tens of thousands of patients and damaged staff morale.
“Unfortunately, we face an escalation of strike action next week that will take disruption to the next level.
“Local NHS leaders are doing all they can to mitigate the impact, but are very worried this will pose a risk to the safety of some patients, and significantly set back progress on key strategic priorities including backlog recovery.
“We are deeply concerned too by the impact on the workforce. As we have seen over many years, including in the pandemic, the NHS does its best work thanks to the extraordinary professionalism, compassion and commitment of its staff. Protracted disputes risk long-term damage to morale, retention and the relationship between staff and the service.
“As the representative bodies of NHS organisations encompassing trusts and the wider healthcare system, we understand doctors’ frustrations over the way their pay has lagged behind inflation in recent years while their workloads have increased. We have to hope the secretary of state’s offer of formal pay talks on the same basis as other health unions presents an opportunity for meaningful dialogue.
“It’s not too late for all sides to realise the harm a strike will do and redouble efforts to enter negotiations and avoid industrial action. Patients deserve nothing less.”
A joint letter to the Daily Telegraph from the Chief Executives of the Shelford Group, NHS Providers and NHS Confederation was also printed on Saturday 11 March and can be viewed here.
For media or interview inquiries, please contact:
Adam Brimelow, Director of Communications, NHS Providers on 07802 752308 or adam.brimelow@nhsproviders.org
Paul Cooney, Assistant Director of Communications, NHS Confederation on 07751 144604 or externalaffairs@nhsconfed.org
Natalie Hudson, Head of Communications, The Shelford Group on 07814 439932 or natalie@shelfordgroup.org