In a joint statement, Prof Derek Bell, President, and Dr Katherine Walesby, Chair of the Trainees and Members Committee, of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh said:
"The Academy Trainee Doctors' Group is the latest group of trainees to call for the imposition of the junior contract to be withdrawn to enable negotiations to resume. A negotiated settlement is the only way to move forward and will enable us to continue to recruit and retain the world class workforce required to deliver the high quality care patients expect from the NHS.
"Pressure is growing from trainees across England and the rest of the UK – whether they are members of the Royal Colleges, the BMA, or both - who have serious concerns with the proposed contract. Its imposition in England could also have far-reaching and unintended consequences for healthcare across all nations in the UK for the foreseeable future.
"The RCPE calls on the UK Government to respond appropriately and urgently to the request to return to negotiations to resolve this dispute and avoid further strike action in the interests of our patients, our trainees and the long term future of the NHS."
ENDS
Contact: Lisa Rooke, RCPE - 0131 247 3688 / 07717 895628 / l.rooke@rcpe.ac.uk
