Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone (Con)

My Lords, I endorse the comments of my noble friend Lord Kamall about recognition of those doctors who have decided not to take action. There can be no way that doctors abandoning patients is compatible with the Hippocratic oath they have taken. For 17 years as chancellor of a university, I have listened to doctors on qualification saying that they are taking their Hippocratic oath and that they will give priority to patients and do no harm. Taking five days of industrial action does a great deal of harm to the patients and, of course, to others in the profession who have to pick up the load—the nurses, the consultants and others. I endorse the great disappointment expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Stoneham, that the report by the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, is going to be so slow in arriving, given that it is so essential to the next steps in the health service. I wonder whether the Minister could come back on the point I made to her last week about resident doctors taking industrial action and then signing on as locums at a premium rate in another health authority or hospital, whether in the NHS or otherwise. Resident doctors are doing the profession enormous harm. Extraordinarily, we still have incredibly high entry standards for doctors. It remains one of the most popular and sought-after professions for school leavers. I take with a pinch of salt this idea that they are all leaving. Lots of doctors go on rotation to America or Australia and to get experience around the world, but I still think that, thank goodness, they regard working in Britain as a worthwhile activity and profession. But the damage these resident doctors are going to do to that trust and respect is enormous.