We live and work in challenging times within the health service. All professional groups within the NHS strive to provide the best quality care for patients.
Patients’ needs have increased across the board at the same time as there are major staff shortages.
Not enough attention or focus has been given to staff retention.
Issues in relation to the day to day working conditions; patient safety concerns; or salary, do not seem to have been heard or addressed
Consequently, our colleagues are leaving the profession or emigrating in large numbers. This is a huge loss to the NHS.
There is an urgent need for an honest conversation about junior doctor pay, training and working conditions.
It is a tragedy that the threat of strike action with its inevitable impact on the patients we serve is needed to achieve this.
We recognise the drivers behind the strike action, and the strength of feeling and level of support for strike action.
The Association of Breast Surgery is fully supportive of our junior doctor colleagues who feel they have no alternative other than to strike.
Professor Christopher Holcombe
ABS President