Striking junior doctors say new contracts will harm patients

The strikes follow disputes over pay and conditions, which the union claims has left Junior Doctors’ Trust in the Government “at an all time low”.

“Unless you have been contacted directly advising you of a cancellation, please attend your procedure or appointment as planned”.

A picket line protest took place outside Stoke Mandeville Hospital today as junior doctors took strike action over proposed new contracts.

The doctors – medical-school graduates training to be consultants or family practitioners – are providing emergency care for only the 24 hours that started at 8am London time.

“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…”

A total of 37,000 of 45,000 junior doctors in England took part in a vote in November a year ago and 98 percent of them voted for industrial action.

He said: “This is a palpable demonstration that they don’t only have these concerns when they’re ticking a box on a ballot paper but also when it comes to showing it in industrial action”.

The Government says its changes are necessary in its aim for a “truly seven-day NHS”, while claiming that only around one per cent of doctors would lose pay.

A spokesman for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) said talks would resume on Thursday at 10am, continuing on Friday.

Masood said support for the strike among the doctors was overwhelming.

“We have been clear throughout this process that we want to negotiate a contract that is safe and fair, and delivers for junior doctors, patients and the NHS as whole”, he added.

The Government wants to cut the number of hours classed as unsociable, meaning these doctors will earn less money for evening and weekend work.

If the junior doctors do withdraw emergency medical care they will risk losing a huge amount of public support.

Starting at 8am this morning (January 12), they will only provide emergency care for 24 hours – causing 16 day cases, 17 inpatient and 235 outpatient appointments and operations at Solihull, Heartlands and Good Hope Hospitals to be postponed. “It’s no secret that most of us will be on the picket lines”.

Junior doctors are angry about planned new working terms which they say would change their “sociable” working hours to include later evenings and weekends.