Responding to new figures from NHS England on the number of appointments delayed because of this week's industrial action, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Sir Julian Hartley said:

"Today's figures confirm the sheer scale of disruption faced by patients following this week's unprecedented walkout by consultants, junior doctors, radiographers and hospital dentists.

"22,441 appointments, operations and procedures were delayed due to industrial action across hospitals, ambulance, mental health and community services this week alone, but the effects of this disruption will be felt for weeks and months to come.

"With 1.2m appointments now delayed since December last year, patients continue to pay a heavy price for the ongoing failure by all parties involved to resolve this industrial action.

"This failure to resolve strikes is piling the pressure on the NHS and is having a huge impact on staff morale, resilience and teamwork, too. 

"Staff who want to focus their efforts and attention on tackling record high waiting lists and preparing for winter are instead spending valuable time rescheduling large numbers of appointments.

"Meanwhile, with NHS leaders confirming yesterday that industrial action has cost the NHS £1.4bn so far, hard-pressed NHS budgets are under huge strain as trusts face losing income from delayed appointments and paying considerable sums to senior doctors to cover for striking colleagues.

"We need this dispute to be resolved but trust leaders are growing increasingly exasperated by the deadlock. Strikes must not be allowed to become the status quo.

"It's vital that the government and trade unions to sit down and talk so that everyone's focus can get back to the real priority: providing safe, high-quality, and timely care for patients."