Doctors walkout as contract row goes on

National 24 hour strike by NHS junior doctors. Photo shows Royal Oldham Hospital picket line.

JUNIOR doctors held their first day of industrial action at the Royal Oldham Hospital in protest at “unsafe and “unfair” proposed changes to their contracts.

Dozens of doctors held banners and signs outside the Rochdale Road hospital as part of the 24-hour walkout, which ended at 8am today. Talks to avert the national industrial action failed and junior doctors launched the first of three days of action which saw them provide only emergency care over the period.

Dr Megan Parson, a junior doctor at the Royal Oldham, said: “We didn’t want it to come to this but we felt that we had no choice. The BMA has tried to negotiate with the Government but we feel that this is the only way to get them to listen seriously to our concerns.

“We have a responsibility to protect the NHS and our patients but we also have to protect the junior doctors who will be affected by these unfair changes to our contracts.”

Fellow junior doctor Xenia Tonge (29), argued that the proposed changes to contracts would have a serious affect on newcomers to medicine.

She said: “Some of my colleagues have already put off progressing in their career as a result of the uncertainty with these contracts. I’m sure it’s also affecting those considering becoming doctors in the future, putting them off a career in medicine as they think they will be overworked.

“Tired doctors make mistakes and it’s our duty to raise our concerns.”

The action was supported by other members of staff, passers by and even patients, who stopped by the picket line.

Doctors were also quick to reassure people that patients were safe while they were on strike and promised to act if there was any emergency situation.

Across the country, up to 45,000 junior doctors were part of the industrial action, with almost 4,000 operations and 17,500 outpatient appointments cancelled.

There will be further disruption with more industrial action already planned if negotiations are unsuccessful. A 48-hour period of emergency care only is set for January 26, and on February 10 there will be a full withdrawal of junior doctor labour between 8am-5pm.