“We didn’t want to take this action – it has come to the stage where we had to”.
Advertisement
In the first walk out of its kind in 40 years, doctors manned a picket line outside the hospital after a long-running dispute over changes to pay and working conditions.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service say talks are to resume this week to find a solution to the deadlock between the Government and doctors over the new contract.
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”.
Junior doctors are protesting planned new working terms which they say would change their “sociable” working hours to include later evenings and weekends.
Northern Devon Healthcare Trust has said it would have to reschedule 28 operations or procedures if the strike went ahead.
Speaking on the picket line, Priyanka Palimar, a junior doctor and one of the BMA’s representatives in the county, said there had been a lot of support for the strike from members of the public.
The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has also responded to the anger from junior doctors in Sandwell.
“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.
However, Norman Smith, the BBC’s assistant political editor, said government sources were “adamant” that if no deal was reached then its new contract would be “imposed” on junior doctors. Dr Sam Krauze, one of the junior doctors taking part in a “meet the doctors” event at the city’s Clock Tower on Tuesday, said the day had gone well.
“We’re greatly sorry to all of the patients who have been inconvenienced, but ultimately we hope it will make the Government start listening to us”.
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.
Significant disagreements still exist between the BMA and the government over pay, safety, and working hours, according to a position paper by the BMA.
“We must have screamed a thousand times to tell you we’re sorry, but you couldn’t be more wrong, and when we call you never seem to listen”.
Advertisement
“If they do this they will be coming after the rest of the NHS staff next so it is really important that we head this off as soon as we can”.
