Speaking ahead of the expected confirmation today that the number of NHS appointments and procedures rescheduled because of industrial action has surpassed one million, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"How bad does it have to get before we see an end to these damaging and demoralising industrial disputes?

"The immediate concern has to be with patients – more than a million and counting – whose care or treatment has been delayed.

"Trust leaders understand only too well the distress this can bring them and their loved ones.

"Every effort has been made to mitigate the impact of successive strikes.

"But the rising disruption figures tell only a small part of the story.

"With the official tally of figures capturing those procedures and appointments that we know are rescheduled, thousands more patients will be affected because trusts are simply not booking in care for strike days known well in advance.

"Behind every delay there is a real and human cost. How many more reasons are needed for an end to the dispute?

"As the costs of the strikes rise – a billion pounds so far – we have to ask again, what price a resolution?

"With resources severely stretched as we head into winter, this is a wholly unwelcome additional burden the NHS can ill-afford.

"And then there's the incalculable cost on local employee relations and on morale.

"Worst of all, where's the hope of a way through when government and the unions, the key parties in this dispute, aren't talking to each other?

"It's time for a decisive move to bring about a breakthrough, to end these questions, and to forge a better future for the NHS."