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The head of the NHS is urging medics and the government to resume talks as the doctors strikes which took place this year, are the equivalent of a whole month in 2023.
Just last week, consultants and junior doctors in England took part in a three-day joint strike and only provided emergency cover.
Ms Pritchard said: “The number one priority throughout the strikes has been patient safety but the strikes have impacted a million appointments and impacted hundreds of thousands more patients.”
As NHS England warns the strike action is hampering the service’s ability to help people in need of urgent care, Ms Pritchard is calling for “serious discussions” to be had between the British Medical Association (BMA) and ministers to prevent further disruptions.
Doctors, consultants and junior doctors began strike action due to the cost-of-living crisis, burnout and pay offers that were below inflation.
Since March, hospital doctors have undertaken 720 hours of industrial action, according to the NHS.
She said: “We would all prefer serious discussions to be resumed with a view of finding a resolution before what we already know will be a challenging winter.”
Now, consultants have said they will allow time for negotiation and have agreed to not call anymore strikes until November.
Professor Philip Banfield, chair of council at the BMA says he is pleased to see NHS England “finally” joining calls made by health leaders, the public and themselves.
He said: “Our door is open. It is not the BMA blocking these pay talks from happening.
“We have repeatedly written to the Government inviting them to pay talk and they have refused to meet with us.”
But a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson disagrees and says they have complied with the BMA’s number one asks.
“Doctors have received a fair and reasonable pay rise – as recommended by the independent pay review body, which we’ve accepted in full.
“Doctors who started their hospital training this year are receiving a 10.3% pay increase.
“The frequency of these debilitating strikes is making it incredibly difficult for services to recover.”