NHS Alliance welcomes news of consultants' strike suspension
Sir Ciarán Devane responds to BMA announcement that consultants' strike will be suspended due to negitiations.
Responding to the BMA's decision to call off consultant doctors strike action planned for later this month Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of the NHS Alliance said:
"This decision by the BMA to suspend the strike action planned by consultants over two days in November will come as welcome news to NHS leaders.
"It is a positive step that consultants and the government have agreed to get round the table and enter formal negotiations, crucially avoiding the significant negative impact a two-day walkout would have had on patient care.
"Health service leaders will hope that both sides are able to use this time productively to reach a long term sustainable agreement that ensures both high-quality care for patients and supports senior doctors."