Junior doctors say they are striking today over new contracts because they will mean “dangerous hours that will harm future patients”.
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The letter from medical director, Dr Roger Stedman, said: “Sandwell General Hospital is now at escalation level four and is reporting an internal incident”.
“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”.
Please stand with our junior doctors today.
Unite head of health Barrie Brown said: “Unite’s 100,000 members in the health service will be giving the doctors maximum support within the bounds of the law by joining protests outside their working hours and taking to social media to highlight their support”.
The government says changes are needed to create more seven-day services but the British Medical Association warns that safeguards keeping a lid on excessive hours are under threat and voted in favour of action by 98% in the autumn.
NHS England estimates almost 4,000 operations and procedures out of 31,000 will be cancelled nationally because of the strike.
Thousands of appointments and operations were postponed or cancelled, however junior doctors continued to provide emergency care throughout the day.
Two further strikes are planned – a 48-hour stoppage and the provision of emergency care only from 8am on Tuesday January 26, and a full withdrawal of labour from 8am to 5pm on Wednesday February 10.
He added: “It is heartening that people understand why we have done this, it was such a hard decision to strike but the public understand why we did this”. They are qualified medical practitioners who are working while studying for qualifications to take more senior roles.
The BMA estimated that Tuesday’s industrial action saw junior doctors attend around 150 pickets nationwide.
The Government’s last contract offer to juniors includes an 11 per cent basic pay rise.
Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday the strike would be “damaging, ” and pleaded with junior doctors to call off the action.
The NHS is widely considered to be one of the UK’s most treasured institutions and a majority of the public are backing the strike, according to a recent poll by Ipsos Mori.
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“This remains our goal and our door is open to talks, but the government must address our concerns around safe working patterns and ensure the contract recognises the long, intense and unsocial hours which junior doctors do”.
