JUNIOR doctors from Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport have defended their strike action by insisting that a new proposed contract is ‘unsafe for patients’.
Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) walked out of hospitals on Tuesday and Wednesday between 8am and 5pm. For the first time they withdrew emergency care.
Tens of staff and their supporters staged a picket line outside Stepping Hill Hospital.
One of the hospital’s junior doctors, Chris Roberts, was on the picket line.
He said: “We’re out here on strike fundamentally because we feel that the new contract proposed is unsafe for patients and unfair on us.”
Mr Roberts stressed: “It’s not about us; we want something safe for all.”
According to NHS England 78 per cent of junior doctors across the country took part in the first all-out strike in NHS history in a dispute with the government over a proposed new contract.
The contract will cut the number of hours classed as unsociable which the BMA claims will mean less pay for evening and weekend work.
The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, issued a statement on Monday defending the new contract.
The Health Secretary emphasised: “We are proud of the NHS as one of our greatest institutions.
“But we must turn that pride into actions – and a seven day service will help us turn the NHS into one of the safest, highest quality healthcare systems in the world.”
Stepping Hill junior doctor Naomi Mcilvenny however argued that the NHS is already a working seven day service.
She said: “Jeremy Hunt is completely misrepresenting the NHS.
“I work 24/7, nights and weekends, and we all do.
“Hunt wants to stretch us more than we already are but it is not possible and dangerous as it will put patients at risk.”
Plenty of cars tooted their horns as they drove past the picket line outside of Stepping Hill in support.
Miss Mcilvenny explained that many members of the public were approaching the picket to declare their support.
She said: “The public understands that the NHS if one of the best things we have in Britain and really value it.
“We can’t go on without their support.”
We asked Quays News readers in a Twitter poll whether they supported the junior doctors’ strike with 97% backing the action.
Quick question for an article for @QuaysNews. Do you support the #JuniorDoctorsStrike? #juniordoctors
— Emily Murray (@EmilyVMurray) April 27, 2016
Do you agree with the strike? Have your say in the comments below.
By Emily Murray
@EmilyVMurray
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