Escalating strikes may be junior doctors’ only chance of getting the government to listen to them, according to a second year doctor at St Helier Hospital.
From yesterday: Junior doctors prepare to strike today for fourth walk-out in contract dispute
From February: Junior doctors blame Jeremy Hunt for break down in negotiations
The fourth round of industrial action by junior doctors enters its second day today as junior doctors and their supporters join picket lines outside hospitals across the country.
Junior doctors walked out at 8am on Wednesday, April 6 and will not return until 8am on Friday, April 8 in the first 48-hour strike.
More than 5,000 operations have been postponed as a result of the strike, although many junior doctors remain on call to provide emergency cover.
The strike is the second since Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced he would impose new contract by August and claimed the union had refused “point blank to discuss reforms”.
From Janurary: Junior doctor strike back on after negotiations with government flounder
Doctors fear the new contracts would force them to work longer hours, causing them to be more tired, and therefore endangering patients.
Under the contracts junior doctors will get an 11 per cent increase in basic pay, but will have to work more weekends. Guaranteed pay rises linked to experience will be scrapped and bonus pay for overtime and working unsociable hours will be curbed.
From February: Jeremy Hunt accused of "bullying approach" in decision to force junior doctor contracts
From February: St George's Hospital chief exec says Jeremy Hunt should not impose junior doctors' contracts
Krishna Sivakumaran, 27, from Putney, is a second-year junior doctor at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton.
He said: “At the moment strikes are very professional hours.
“But I think if you make it a full 48-hour strike with a total walkout then actually people will think about it more and more because the pressure will build.
“We have had enough of these partial walkouts that if our determination was going to fade away it would have by now and we would have taken the contract.
“Nobody wants to be here today, but we are because we are really unhappy with the contracts.”
From March: Junior doctors stage 48 hour walkout after Jeremy Hunt's contract imposition
The Department of Health blamed the British Medical Association for the breakdown in negotiations over the new contracts.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "If the BMA had agreed to negotiate on Saturday pay, as they promised to do through ACAS in November, we’d have a negotiated agreement by now.
“Instead, we had no choice but to proceed with proposals recommended and supported by NHS leaders."
Junior doctors strike outside Croydon University Hospital
Dr Sivakumaran picketed outside St Helier Hospital, and was joined by fellow junior doctors, health campaigners and members of the public supporting the industrial action.
He explained that their support was vital for maintaining morale.
He said: “The mood is low at the moment.
“People are unhappy to be at work and are actively discussing other options – working abroad or other medical jobs in the city.
“But when I speak to members of the public, who are generally very supportive, it does help.
“I walked past a building site on the way to the picket line and spoke to a number of construction workers who were asking why we were striking.
“We explained what was happening and they said, ‘good for you, you should strike!’”
Health campaigners Keep Our St Helier Hospital campaign outside Sutton railway station
BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana has said that the Government must take responsibility for the crisis and, for the sake of patients, resume talks with doctors.
He said: "By pursuing its current course, the Government risks alienating a generation of doctors.
"If it continues to ignore junior doctors’ concerns, at a time when their morale is already at rock-bottom, doctors may vote with their feet, which will clearly affect the long-term future of the NHS and the care it provides.
"Responsibility for industrial action now lies entirely with the Government. It must start listening and resume negotiations on a properly funded junior doctors’ contract to protect the future of patient care and the NHS."
Alison Smith, deputy chief operating officer at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said: “Patients always come first and our staff will be working very hard to ensure we can provide safe care for urgent and emergency cases during the industrial action.
"During the previous disputes we have been busy but coped well, thanks to everyone working together.
”For patients whose operations or appointments at the Trust have been cancelled, we are truly sorry for any disruption caused, but we are working extremely hard to reschedule new dates as soon as possible.”
Junior doctors on the picket line outside St George's Hospital in Tooting
A statement on the St George's Hospital website said: "If there are changes to an appointment that you have arranged at our hospitals on a day of action, we will contact you.
"If you do not hear from us, please assume your appointment remains unchanged.
"St George’s overriding concern and obligation is to provide high quality and safe care to patients during this time."
An Epsom and St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust spokeswoman said: "Our hospitals and staff are likely to be very busy during this 48-hour period, and as always, we are asking people to only come to our A&E departments in an emergency.
“We are working hard to keep any disruption to services to an absolute minimum.
"If there are changes to an appointment that you have arranged at our hospitals on any day of action, we will contact you."
Are you joining the picket line today? Call the newsdesk on 020 9722 6483 or get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk
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