The union says the new plan would prevent junior doctors from achieving promotions and put them at risk for being overworked.
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Thousands of junior doctors joined the strike with some even refusing a plea to return to work, while around 4,000 operations had to be cancelled. “We need to be able to look after our patients the very best we can”.
The row centres around a proposed new contract of employment which will cut the number of hours classed as unsociable, which the union claims will mean less pay for evening and weekend work.
NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh told hospital bosses that doctors should be ordered off the picket line if hospitals become unsafe.
While it’s true that pay and hours are important factors in the negotiation between the BMA and the department for health, it seems the public is confused over what problems junior doctors actually have with the contract that has been offered to them.
“It’s been overwhelming, with really fantastic support from the public”, she said, adding none of the doctors had been “particularly keen” on coming out on strike in the first place but felt they were left with no other option.
Demonstrators support striking junior doctors outside the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in Liverpool, the United Kingdom, on Tuesday.
JUNIOR doctors man the picket line at Whiston Hospital in the first in a series of strikes which will hit some services people are warned.
“I do not think we can give that guarantee at this point”, he said.
“We don’t want to strike this is a last resort”, Miriam Anderson, and A&E trainee said.
This could then be followed by a full withdrawal of labour from 8am until 5pm on February 10.
The protests forced thousands of operations to be cancelled and outpatient appointments to be rescheduled.
“In addition we are now working on further contingency plans for the next round of junior doctors’ action later this month”.
The BMA said that, after agreeing to postpone industrial action, progress in talks had been slow and issues surrounding pay and working hours are unresolved.
Two further strikes are planned – the second of which would involve a refusal to take part in emergency care – but it is hoped talks could break the stalemate.
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Their treatment by this government has been nothing short of appalling, leading to the strike action in our NHS today. They are qualified medical practitioners who are working while studying for qualifications to take more senior roles. “It is time for this government to apologise to junior doctors and negotiate a fair deal that gets our NHS working again”.
