LETTER: Doctors' strike - Negotiations must continue

The most sensible way forward is to begin fresh negotiations to stop the strikes and ensure whoever is representing the Government is open to listening to the legitimate concerns of frontline staff.

As a district nurse who has seen the community workforce shrink by more than 5,400 nurses under this current Government, I can see the false economies that have driven these damaging changes.

While an ageing population is one factor for increased demand on services, the disintegration of GP and community care services, once the solid foundations of the NHS, are impacting on ambulance services, out-of-hours, 111, A&E, end-of-life care and pressurising hospital wards.

Community nurses and GPs are struggling to carry the weight of unmet need.

The message to Jeremy Hunt is that this dismantling of the NHS has to stop.

He needs to: heed the expertise of frontline staff, wake up to the wider implications and loss of faith caused by his inability to consider compromise, stop this risky inflexible behaviour and get back to the negotiating table with the junior doctors.

Jill Gould

By email