Response to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s talks about strike action with unions.

Danny Mortimer (chief executive of the NHS Employers organisation) said: “We welcome these talks between the Health Secretary and unions which aim to ensure patient safety is maintained during periods of industrial action. Employers are already preparing to minimise disruption to patients during next week’s action.”

Our immediate focus must be to continue good local partnership working and communication between employers and unions, ensuring safe emergency care on the day and efficient rescheduling of appointments when necessary. We continue to believe that striking isn’t the right solution and only disrupts and distresses patients. We need to find a way to resolve this dispute with a long term sustainable plan, which takes us past this period of pay restraint.”