Classification: Official

To:

• integrated care board chief executives
• trust:
  • chief executives
  • chief operating officers
  • chief medical officers

cc:

• trust directors of communications
• integrated care board directors of communications
• regional directors

Dear colleagues

I’m writing to say a big thank you to you and all your teams for your efforts over the last week in managing the latest round of British Medical Association industrial action. This is not the start to the new financial year any of us would have wanted.

I’m aware from conversations with a number of you that maintaining services for patients is becoming more challenging the longer this goes on. However, in spite of this, early indications show that you have, again, managed to maintain high levels of service and protect patient care through this latest strike – the latest data indicating that c 95% of elective activity has been maintained. That is a huge achievement so please pass on my thanks to all involved. 

We are all very disappointed that we’ve had to go through this again, especially as the efforts of the team, led by Glen and Meghana, since January had given us real hope we could get this thing resolved. If this does turn out to be a recurring event, we will need to be organised for that. So, we will have a chance to talk about our overall approach to industrial action when we meet at the regional roadshows this month and when we come together on April 28.

In the meantime, please pass on my thanks to your teams. You have had to become very good at managing this disruption and none of us should take that for granted. It is very much appreciated, not least by our patients.

Thanks again, see you later in the month and keep going….

Jim

Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive, NHS England