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Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, responded to the latest action by junior doctors

“The Patients Association has watched the continuing dispute between the Government and the junior doctors with growing concern. We do not believe that the imposition of a contract will be at all helpful in resolving this ongoing dispute.

“As there appears to be a doubt about the legality of the decision to impose the contract, the Patients Association believes it is in the interests of patients and all concerned to resolve this matter as soon as possible. 

“Junior doctors are the backbone of the NHS, and it is vital that they are able to provide the safe and effective care that patients need. Such a highly trained and valuable part of the NHS should not be disregarded so lightly. At a time when financing the NHS is already at breaking point, we should not further risk losing more doctors whose training is funded by the public purse. 

“As the voice of patients, our priority lies in protecting patient and public safety, and we know that junior doctors have never taken lightly the decision to strike. Doctors have a very real concern that the imposed terms will stretch the existing resource too thinly and will threaten the quality of patient care. Staff morale is low throughout the NHS and many doctors are feeling burnt out

“This ongoing acrimonious dispute risks driving today's doctors away and deterring the next generation from ever joining the profession, and so could lead to greater shortages in the future in an already overstretched service.”

Notes to Editors:

• The Patients Association is an independent national health and social care charity established over 52 years ago, which has a long history of campaigning to ensure that the voice of patients is heard within the UK Health and Social care system. 
• For further information please contact Deborah McDonald on 020 8423 9111, or email deborah@patients-association.com or call 07779 004898. Visit our website at www.patients-association.org.uk