Sir Julian Lewis: Given that the terms “emergency care” and “intensive care” imply that the life of those who need them is at risk, does my right hon. Friend share my dismay that people in that predicament are now clearly being targeted by strikers? Will he – and hopefully his Opposition counterpart – represent to the medical unions that whatever other strike action they take, they should not endanger the life of people in emergency or intensive care?

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Barclay): My right hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. Patient safety should come first for all parties in this dispute. That is why I urge the Royal College of Nursing to wait for the NHS Staff Council decision on the offer. Voting is still ongoing, and it would be premature to announce strike action ahead of that decision.]