Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that medical care is not disrupted during the junior doctor strikes.

The National Health Service makes every effort through rigorous contingency planning to minimise disruption and its impact on patients and the public during industrial action.

In the case of recent strikes by junior doctors, the NHS had plans in place to engage consultants, Speciality and Associate Specialist doctors and allied health professionals to provide cover. Where necessary, trusts also cancelled non-urgent appointments to prioritise urgent and emergency care.

We are urging the British Medical Association junior doctors committee to approach talks constructively for the sake of both patients and their own members.