Responding to the announcement of national agreements between NHS England and the Royal College of Nursing to protect life-and-limb services in the forthcoming strike, the deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"This latest nurses' strike is hugely challenging for trusts which are working hard to ensure patient safety and minimise disruption for patients.

"It's been helpful to see local exemptions agreed in some places where the risks to patients were particularly severe.

"These national agreements are a further positive step.

"However the situation remains extremely difficult, with a lasting disruptive impact that's bad for patients, staff and the NHS.

"We need to see a deal to end the strikes that allows the NHS to get on with key strategic priorities such as tackling backlogs.

"We urge the government and unions to find a way through this dispute."