Junior doctors strike for first time in 40 years

Hospitals across England are providing emergency care only after thousands of junior doctors went on strike – and are urging all but those in desperate need of medical care to stay away.

Mr Hunt wants to hold talks with the union about how to improve patient safety.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctors committee chairman, said: “Today’s action – one that the BMA has long sought to avoid – is a result of a fundamental breakdown in trust with junior doctors, for which the government is directly responsible”.

“We want them to get behind us, by writing to their local MPs, local newspapers and raising awareness to help save our NHS”.

Any qualified doctor who is not yet a consultant or GP, is a junior doctor.

Around 160 picket lines were put in place for Tuesday’s strike, with a large concentration in and around London.

JUNIOR doctors have been hitting the picket lines in protest at government plans to change their pay and conditions.

The landmark industrial action was called after 98 per cent of the 38,000 junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association voted in favour of strikes in response to proposed restrictions to the working hours in which junior doctors are paid for overtime.

For 24 hours since 8am yesterday, trainees in England only provided emergency-only care – similar to a Christmas Day service.

“Clearly NHS employers and the Government have a different view and I think the sooner we can get to a position where there is one version of the truth and really understand those areas where there continues to be disagreement and to find a resolution to those issues…” We still don’t know the answer to what causes many illnesses or what is definitely the best treatment but the public can be sure that doctors will do their best to make them well again.

“The government is trying to impose an unfair contract that will not just impact on junior doctors but all NHS workers in the future”.

If an agreement is not reached, junior doctors have threatened a 48-hour strike starting on January 26, with an all-out strike planned for February 10.

A 27-year-old woman – who wished to remain anonymous – who has been a junior doctor for three years said: “If they are not bringing in any more doctors than the service will be more thinly spread than it already us”.

Paula Clark, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, said: “We began working on robust contingency plans as soon as we were informed by the BMA about their planned action last week”.