Dear Junior Doctor Colleagues,

The St George’s Hospital Emergency Department (ED) Consultants know how difficult and stressful the last few weeks must have been for you regarding the uncertainty of your future contract. Rest assured that we are wholeheartedly against the proposed changes to your contract. It is regrettable that the government seems to be determined to impose these changes upon you, and that the BMA has been forced to withdraw from negotiations. We fully support you and your choice to undertake industrial action.

We completely agree with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine statement on the proposed government changes. Recruitment and retention of excellent doctors, like you, is essential for us to carry on providing high quality emergency care to our patients. Any new contract should support this.

St George’s Hospital Emergency Department (ED) is one of the busiest in the country. We see some of the sickest and most complex patients on a daily basis. The ED provides life-saving treatment and is often the first experience a patient has of the hospital. You ensure that they receive excellent and high quality care. You do this through your hard work and commitment. You are kind, responsible, excellent and respectful to your patients and to your colleagues. Just like us, you provide care 24 hours a day, 7days a week, 365 days of the year. You are highly valued by all the Consultants in Emergency Medicine.

We want you to have a safe and fair contract. It will protect you. But most of all, it will protect our patients. At the end of the day, you are the future of the NHS and we are proud to call you our colleagues.

Yours sincerely

St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Emergency Medicine Consultants.