Responding to comments by deputy chief nurse Charlotte McArdle ahead of strike action hitting the NHS across England this bank holiday, Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said:

"Trust leaders have told us that this weekend's strike action, including nurses in emergency departments, intensive care and cancer care for the first time, is the most worrying so far.

"Some say they are struggling to find enough staff for specialist areas including children's services.

"Trust leaders and staff will do everything they can to minimise disruption and keep patients safe but it's piling on the pressure on an overstretched NHS now into its sixth consecutive month of industrial action. That's resulted in more than 531,000 appointments and procedures being rescheduled – not just in hospitals but across mental health and community services too.

"The NHS is still there for patients during the strikes. People should call 999 in the event of an emergency. For less urgent cases, they should turn first to 111 online if they can to get help and advice.

"We can't go on like this. We hope that the government can sit down with the Royal College of Nursing and other unions soon to find a way to prevent any more strikes."