Responding to the story in The Times on Saturday 24 September 2022, RCP president Dr Sarah Clarke said:
“I have today written to fellows and members of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) with a heartfelt apology. I have been deeply affected by the strength of feeling expressed on social media and in other messages I have received and want to apologise for my comments which I feel have been misrepresented.
“My and the RCP’s position is neutral and clear – we are not a trade union, and while of course hope the BMA can negotiate an acceptable settlement, we fully respect the right of union members to industrial action.
“As I said in my statement on Saturday evening, the RCP will always speak up on behalf of doctors and their colleagues in health and social care when it comes to their wellbeing. We are clearly not attracting and retaining enough people or taking enough care of the ones we have. It is vital that staff feel supported and valued, including when it comes to their pay.
“There will be a range of views in our membership on the question of industrial action, but I want to make clear that I and the RCP support the right of trade union members to go on strike. No one takes the decision to do so lightly, but for healthcare professionals it is especially difficult and will weigh heavily upon them. That doctors are even considering it is yet another sign that the government needs to invest in the workforce in a comprehensive way. Indeed, the fact that patient safety is already compromised by staffing levels may be a reason to take action for some.
“We need more doctors, and while that won’t happen overnight, the RCP urges the government to stop delaying on a robust workforce strategy. Only through sort of long term investment in recruitment and retention of the workforce will we prevent the NHS staffing crisis from deepening further and the demands of an ageing population with multiple health conditions becoming overwhelming.”