PLEASE can I ask everyone to write to or email their MP, urging them to persuade Jeremy Hunt to enter into negotiations via ACAS and avoid a junior doctors’ strike which no one, especially the junior doctors, wants.

The doctors’ union, the BMA, hundreds of junior and senior doctors and health professionals, and some MPs (including Rachael Maskell) have asked him to do this but to no avail.

Hopefully, requests from some of his own MPs, such as Julian Sturdy (York Outer), Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) and Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) might carry more weight.

I personally think the doctors have very valid concerns. The BMA certainly has an overwhelming mandate (98 per cent of a 76 per cent turnout) to represent them and trust between the BMA and the Secretary of State has clearly broken down.

However, whatever your belief about the rights and wrongs of the situation, it can only move forward if Mr Hunt will talk to the BMA through the conciliation service ACAS.

Sally Canham, Appleton Roebuck, York