I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the government's position in the Junior doctor's dispute.

Despite the olive branch offered by the doctors to Jeremy Hunt in facilitating a settlement via a suggestion of pre-contractual pilot schemes, Mr Hunt is stubbornly maintaining his uncompromising position in implementing a forced contract.

A refusal by Mr Hunt to negotiate with the junior doctors is contrary to the very concept of contractual agreements in which, as we all know, can only exist if both parties are in agreement with the terms and conditions written therein.

The doctors are taking strike action because they have little choice in the light of non-negotiation on the part of Mr Hunt.

During the time of industrial action, if anything should go badly wrong with patient care, the onus would surely be on the part of the person(s) who refuse to negotiate, if a mechanism for settlement has clearly been made available. That means it would look unfavourable not only to Mr Hunt, but also to the entire conservative party to which he belongs - especially to party members who support his uncompromising stance.

The government is meddling with things they know very little about. The NHS is to Jeremy Hunt as much as education was to Michael Gove. Ideology seems to be driving policy rather than the essential acquisition of knowledge and close consultation with the very people who actually do the job every day, and who know intimately how best to do it effectively.

Allan

Macdougall

Kynaston Mews