Former hospital worker and GP Steve Lacey was involved in the first junior doctors’ strikes in the 1970s and was among those who took refreshments to the picketers.
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Despite talks to prevent the strike, around 4,000 operations and procedures have been cancelled, with thousands more routine appointments also postponed.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash also spoke out to pledge transport unions’ support for the strikes and said: “RMT members are urged to join the picket lines at their local hospital tomorrow to show solidarity with the junior doctors at this crucial point in their fight for justice”.
In interviews just hours after he ducked questions from journalists outside his home, Mr Hunt raised the spectre of deaths at Mid Staffs Hospital and claimed stroke patients died more at weekends. Under the new contract, however, part-time junior doctors would be penalized by a slower career progression.
Though the effects of the strike are quite significant to the health care of patients across medical facilities in England, doctors who participated in the strike feel that the government simply is not providing them with any other choice.
“The government want to take away the safeguards that protect us against that – we have no assurances that we won’t be overworked and working more unsocial hours for less pay”.
The hospital said it carried on giving “safe and effective treatment” to patients during the strike.
The doctors have been picketing outside the hospital this morning, holding placards and handing out leaflets to members of the public.
Rupa, a junior ophthalmologist, was out on the picket line today.
She said: “Anyone who has an operation cancelled today or an outpatient appointment delayed should be under no illusions”.
This will be followed by further strikes.
Tuesday’s strike is only the first in a series of three 24-hour stoppages planned.
On Wednesday February 10, there will be a full withdrawal of labour from 8am to 5pm.
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.
“We’re not asking for perks, just for recognition on how hard we really do work, and not taking a pay cut is part of this”, Dr. Nina Beck of Bristol said, according to The Guardian.
“Ordinarily you would only get the chance to speak with people when they are receiving care so this is good in a different way because we can explain precisely why we are doing this”. “We are actively monitoring the situation across the country and the impact of the action is broadly in line with what we were expecting”.
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