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| Junior doctors in third walkout as dispute over new contract escalates | Junior doctors in third walkout as dispute over new contract escalates |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Junior doctors went on strike for the third time in three months on Wednesday to protest against government proposals to change the terms of their contracts, as public support for their industrial action showed no sign of flagging. | Junior doctors went on strike for the third time in three months on Wednesday to protest against government proposals to change the terms of their contracts, as public support for their industrial action showed no sign of flagging. |
| The 48-hour walkout represents an escalation of the bitter dispute between the British Medical Association, the union representing aggrieved doctors, and health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has thus far failed to forge an agreement on the changes. | The 48-hour walkout represents an escalation of the bitter dispute between the British Medical Association, the union representing aggrieved doctors, and health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has thus far failed to forge an agreement on the changes. |
| Previous strikes lasted 24 hours but the increase does not seem to have dented public sympathy for the medics. Many of the 147 BMA-backed picket lines outside hospitals were inundated with support from patients, passing motorists, pedestrians and members of other unions. | Previous strikes lasted 24 hours but the increase does not seem to have dented public sympathy for the medics. Many of the 147 BMA-backed picket lines outside hospitals were inundated with support from patients, passing motorists, pedestrians and members of other unions. |
| Related: Junior doctors strike for third time over new contract - as it happened | Related: Junior doctors strike for third time over new contract - as it happened |
| A poll for the BBC showed that 65% support the industrial action, almost identical to the backing before the previous strike last month. In a further boost for the BMA, the percentage against the strike has dropped from 22% last month to 17%. | A poll for the BBC showed that 65% support the industrial action, almost identical to the backing before the previous strike last month. In a further boost for the BMA, the percentage against the strike has dropped from 22% last month to 17%. |
| While Hunt, whose imposition of the new junior doctors contract after last month’s walkout raised the stakes, remained conspicuously quiet, many strikers were out winning friends. | While Hunt, whose imposition of the new junior doctors contract after last month’s walkout raised the stakes, remained conspicuously quiet, many strikers were out winning friends. |
| There were around 25 “little life-saver” events, free sessions run by striking doctors for parents to learn first aid skills that could save their children’s lives. Others ran CPR classes, gave blood or took part in “meet the doctors” events, explaining to the public the reasons for the industrial action. | There were around 25 “little life-saver” events, free sessions run by striking doctors for parents to learn first aid skills that could save their children’s lives. Others ran CPR classes, gave blood or took part in “meet the doctors” events, explaining to the public the reasons for the industrial action. |
| Dr Dagan Lonsdale, an intensive care registrar, took part in one of the first aid events at a pub near St George’s hospital in Tooting, south London. | Dr Dagan Lonsdale, an intensive care registrar, took part in one of the first aid events at a pub near St George’s hospital in Tooting, south London. |
| “The idea is to just do something positive on the day of industrial action because junior doctors aren’t people for standing around braziers on a picket line, and people feel they want to do something positive and show that this is not about striking for money,” he said. | “The idea is to just do something positive on the day of industrial action because junior doctors aren’t people for standing around braziers on a picket line, and people feel they want to do something positive and show that this is not about striking for money,” he said. |
| “We really do have patients’ best interests at heart; we’re interested in pursuing our vocation, which is saving people’s lives.” | “We really do have patients’ best interests at heart; we’re interested in pursuing our vocation, which is saving people’s lives.” |
| Outside the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, in the East End, where junior doctors received beeps of support from cars, delivery trucks and buses, even a disgruntled man on crutches, upset that he hadn’t been told his clinic had been cancelled, offered his backing and took a BMA sticker. | Outside the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, in the East End, where junior doctors received beeps of support from cars, delivery trucks and buses, even a disgruntled man on crutches, upset that he hadn’t been told his clinic had been cancelled, offered his backing and took a BMA sticker. |
| Dr Heather Ryan, 29, a GP registrar who works in a surgery in south Liverpool and joined the picket line outside the Royal University Liverpool hospital, said: “Lots of car horns have been going – it is obvious that the public are supporting us. There is lots of activity on social media as well. People who aren’t even associated with the NHS are saying they support us. | Dr Heather Ryan, 29, a GP registrar who works in a surgery in south Liverpool and joined the picket line outside the Royal University Liverpool hospital, said: “Lots of car horns have been going – it is obvious that the public are supporting us. There is lots of activity on social media as well. People who aren’t even associated with the NHS are saying they support us. |
| “The Merseyside pensioners are here. It is not just NHS workers who support us – it is people from all walks of life.” | “The Merseyside pensioners are here. It is not just NHS workers who support us – it is people from all walks of life.” |
| Despite plenty of public support, the Patients Association chief executive, Katherine Murphy, warned repeated industrial action would “continue the destruction of trust between staff and their employers, and erode the public’s confidence in the service”. | Despite plenty of public support, the Patients Association chief executive, Katherine Murphy, warned repeated industrial action would “continue the destruction of trust between staff and their employers, and erode the public’s confidence in the service”. |
| Intensifying the pressure on the government, NHS staff – including junior doctors – and patients are holding a “blue light” vigil on Wednesday night outside Downing Street “to remind the government and public that the NHS is already 24/7”. | Intensifying the pressure on the government, NHS staff – including junior doctors – and patients are holding a “blue light” vigil on Wednesday night outside Downing Street “to remind the government and public that the NHS is already 24/7”. |
| Delivering a seven-day NHS is the rationale given by the the health secretary for changes to the junior doctors’ contract, including designating Saturdays as a normal working day, which would not attract overtime payments. | Delivering a seven-day NHS is the rationale given by the the health secretary for changes to the junior doctors’ contract, including designating Saturdays as a normal working day, which would not attract overtime payments. |
| The BMA says the changes would increase the burden on its members and thereby compromise patient safety. | The BMA says the changes would increase the burden on its members and thereby compromise patient safety. |
| In parliament, Hunt was mocked for giving a statement on patient safety while failing to mention the strike. | In parliament, Hunt was mocked for giving a statement on patient safety while failing to mention the strike. |
| The shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “How can he stand here and talk about patient safety when it’s him and him alone to blame for the current industrial action, for the destruction of staff morale and for the potential exodus of junior doctors to the southern hemisphere?” | The shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “How can he stand here and talk about patient safety when it’s him and him alone to blame for the current industrial action, for the destruction of staff morale and for the potential exodus of junior doctors to the southern hemisphere?” |
| In response, Hunt accused Labour of backing the BMA against patients, who he said need a seven-day NHS. | In response, Hunt accused Labour of backing the BMA against patients, who he said need a seven-day NHS. |
| NHS England said 44% of junior doctors showed up for work on the first day of the strike. But that figure does not distinguish between the considerable amount of junior doctors working in emergency wards, excluded from the industrial action, and those who chose not to participate. | |
| Dr Anne Rainsberry, national incident director for NHS England, said: “Unfortunately the cumulative effect of these recurring strikes is causing disruption to thousands of patients, for which we can only apologise. | |
| “A 48-hour stoppage puts considerably more pressure on the NHS. The impact of the action so far is broadly in line with what we were expecting but we know that the second day is going to be more difficult and have made sure plans are in place to respond to any rising pressures.” | |
| Two further 48-hour strikes are planned for next month. | Two further 48-hour strikes are planned for next month. |