HOW has the medical profession allowed militant extremists, whose teachings and beliefs are so out of kilter with UK values, to take over the British Medical Association and threaten patients’ lives and the very existence of the NHS by going on strike?

And how many more militant organisations are there like the BMA within the NHS playing politics with our lives as patients?

The question each doctor must ask themselves before taking action is whether striking is likely to cause significant harm to patients under his or her care, or who otherwise would have come under their care.

If they do not like it they must go and work in another part of the world.

This is a matter of professional duty and we expect as British subjects – and therefore their employers – that each doctor complies with the 1983 Medical Act which governs the behaviour of all doctors practising in the UK.

The act and the accompanying guidance require doctors to exercise their professional responsibilities in the interests of their patients, to put their patients first and protect them from harm at all times.

The General Medical Council has powers under the act to investigate and apply sanctions to any doctor whose behaviour has fallen consistently or seriously below the standards required and take appropriate action.

I want assurance from the Government and the GMC that they will continue to bring the NHS into the 21st century with good quality of life working practices for all members of staff, including doctors.

And that the police will protect us from all NHS extremists in any medical emergency and will investigate all allegations of neglect or death caused by the militant actions of organisations like the BMA and any of its members who have dragged their profession into disgrace.

Bob Welch

Leigh