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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/live/2015/oct/17/junior-doctors-protest-against-contract-proposals-live
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Thousands rally in London to protest junior doctor contract - as it happened | Thousands rally in London to protest junior doctor contract - as it happened |
| (30 days later) | |
| 5.17pm BST | 5.17pm BST |
| 17:17 | 17:17 |
| We’re wrapping up this live blog now, many thanks for so many contributions, on and offline. | We’re wrapping up this live blog now, many thanks for so many contributions, on and offline. |
| Here’s Denis Campbell’s full story from today’s march. | Here’s Denis Campbell’s full story from today’s march. |
| Related: Leader of NHS junior doctors urges Jeremy Hunt to reopen negotiations | Related: Leader of NHS junior doctors urges Jeremy Hunt to reopen negotiations |
| 5.15pm BST | 5.15pm BST |
| 17:15 | 17:15 |
| Denis Campbell | Denis Campbell |
| Health policy editor Denis Campbell, at the junior doctors demonstration in central London, has just filed this quick analysis of today’s event. What has today’s demo achieved? It’s hard to say. But the impressive attendance, the fact that the marchers are truly representative of junior doctors not BMA dupes of Jeremy Hunt’s imagination and the support for them from the medical profession as a whole, as well as widespread media and public support, all mark this out as a dispute that is now very tricky for ministers to defuse. | Health policy editor Denis Campbell, at the junior doctors demonstration in central London, has just filed this quick analysis of today’s event. What has today’s demo achieved? It’s hard to say. But the impressive attendance, the fact that the marchers are truly representative of junior doctors not BMA dupes of Jeremy Hunt’s imagination and the support for them from the medical profession as a whole, as well as widespread media and public support, all mark this out as a dispute that is now very tricky for ministers to defuse. |
| That said, Hunt is playing an ever-harder version of hardball, insisting that junior doctors are in effect having the wool pulled over their eyes by the scheming BMA - a tactic of dubious value - and still insisting that 11,000 people a year die when they shouldn’t just because they were admitted to hospital at the weekend, even though the research paper he cites as the source of that claim specifically does not say that. If anyone is misrepresenting key facts, it’s him. | That said, Hunt is playing an ever-harder version of hardball, insisting that junior doctors are in effect having the wool pulled over their eyes by the scheming BMA - a tactic of dubious value - and still insisting that 11,000 people a year die when they shouldn’t just because they were admitted to hospital at the weekend, even though the research paper he cites as the source of that claim specifically does not say that. If anyone is misrepresenting key facts, it’s him. |
| A Downing Street spokeswoman told me on Friday afternoon that David Cameron is still completely happy with his health secretary’s handling of the dispute and that they remain as one over the government’s offer to England’s 45,000 junior doctors. | A Downing Street spokeswoman told me on Friday afternoon that David Cameron is still completely happy with his health secretary’s handling of the dispute and that they remain as one over the government’s offer to England’s 45,000 junior doctors. |
| The BMA’s move towards holding the ballot for industrial action they first decided upon three weeks ago - details of when it will be held will emerge in the next few days - is likely to bind Cameron and Hunt together, at least publicly. | The BMA’s move towards holding the ballot for industrial action they first decided upon three weeks ago - details of when it will be held will emerge in the next few days - is likely to bind Cameron and Hunt together, at least publicly. |
| While the BMA insists that it has been backed into a corner by Hunt - in effect forced to resort to the ballot because their pleas for an agreed settlement have fallen on deaf ears - the reality of them taking industrial action, which is likely to involve action short of a strike, like a work to rule, could yet prove their undoing. | While the BMA insists that it has been backed into a corner by Hunt - in effect forced to resort to the ballot because their pleas for an agreed settlement have fallen on deaf ears - the reality of them taking industrial action, which is likely to involve action short of a strike, like a work to rule, could yet prove their undoing. |
| Unlike members of other trade unions like Tube train drivers, it’s very hard for doctors to actually strike, as their patients depend on them. | Unlike members of other trade unions like Tube train drivers, it’s very hard for doctors to actually strike, as their patients depend on them. |
| Indeed, some very senior doctors fear that taking action will hand the initiative back to Hunt, who is currently very much on the defensive. | Indeed, some very senior doctors fear that taking action will hand the initiative back to Hunt, who is currently very much on the defensive. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.17pm BST | at 5.17pm BST |
| 5.09pm BST | 5.09pm BST |
| 17:09 | 17:09 |
| Summary | Summary |
| 4.54pm BST | 4.54pm BST |
| 16:54 | 16:54 |
| The Dickson family have been marching in the place of their junior doctor daughter Dr Karen Dickson, who is working this weekend at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. | The Dickson family have been marching in the place of their junior doctor daughter Dr Karen Dickson, who is working this weekend at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. |
| Keith and Elana Dickson, along with their daughter Ella, travelled to London for the protest after Dr Dickson was unable to attend in person. | Keith and Elana Dickson, along with their daughter Ella, travelled to London for the protest after Dr Dickson was unable to attend in person. |
| “She’s concerned that the new contract isn’t safe, for doctors and patients, and that it is part of a bigger plan to incrementally destroy the NHS,” Ella told the Guardian. | “She’s concerned that the new contract isn’t safe, for doctors and patients, and that it is part of a bigger plan to incrementally destroy the NHS,” Ella told the Guardian. |
| 4.50pm BST | 4.50pm BST |
| 16:50 | 16:50 |
| It’s not just junior doctors on the march today, there are also many GPs and nurses marching in solidarity, or showing support online, despite not being directly affected by the contract. | It’s not just junior doctors on the march today, there are also many GPs and nurses marching in solidarity, or showing support online, despite not being directly affected by the contract. |
| I am a GP. I care deeply about our #NHS. I was a #juniordoctor. I stand with them now. #notsafenotfair #istandwithjohann #juniorcontract | I am a GP. I care deeply about our #NHS. I was a #juniordoctor. I stand with them now. #notsafenotfair #istandwithjohann #juniorcontract |
| As specialist nurse, I support today's junior doctor protest #saveourNHS #juniorcontract #weneedtotalkaboutjeremy #notsafenotfair | As specialist nurse, I support today's junior doctor protest #saveourNHS #juniorcontract #weneedtotalkaboutjeremy #notsafenotfair |
| I'm a GP who was once a junior doctor. Look at this crowd! Where would the NHS be without them? #juniorcontract | I'm a GP who was once a junior doctor. Look at this crowd! Where would the NHS be without them? #juniorcontract |
| Good luck to the Doctors protesting today. This worn out old nurse supports you 100%. #juniorcontract #juniordoctors | Good luck to the Doctors protesting today. This worn out old nurse supports you 100%. #juniorcontract #juniordoctors |
| 4.45pm BST | 4.45pm BST |
| 16:45 | 16:45 |
| Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston criticises Hunt's approach | Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston criticises Hunt's approach |
| Conservative MP and former GP Sarah Wollaston has been tweeting about the protest today, having already expressed support for the junior doctors and calling for a re-think by the Department of Health in a September Telegraph article. | Conservative MP and former GP Sarah Wollaston has been tweeting about the protest today, having already expressed support for the junior doctors and calling for a re-think by the Department of Health in a September Telegraph article. |
| 2/3 simply won't wash to claim 'most docs will be better off' without clarifying which will be far worse off if total pay envelope the same | 2/3 simply won't wash to claim 'most docs will be better off' without clarifying which will be far worse off if total pay envelope the same |
| 3/3 failure of DH to appreciate/address wider causes of #juniordoctors low morale + obfuscated communication. Really need to start again | 3/3 failure of DH to appreciate/address wider causes of #juniordoctors low morale + obfuscated communication. Really need to start again |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.55pm BST | at 4.55pm BST |
| 4.37pm BST | 4.37pm BST |
| 16:37 | 16:37 |
| Roshana Mehdian, a 29-year-old junior doctor, addressed the crowd through a loudspeaker as they sat down on Whitehall during the march. | Roshana Mehdian, a 29-year-old junior doctor, addressed the crowd through a loudspeaker as they sat down on Whitehall during the march. |
| She said there were 20,000 people on the march and started a chant of “Where are you Jeremy?”. | She said there were 20,000 people on the march and started a chant of “Where are you Jeremy?”. |
| 20000 people asking 'where are you Jeremy?' #juniorcontract pic.twitter.com/h86uHgz2Tm | 20000 people asking 'where are you Jeremy?' #juniorcontract pic.twitter.com/h86uHgz2Tm |
| “We are protesting against an unfair and unsafe contract and this is showing our strength of feeling,” she told the Press Association. | “We are protesting against an unfair and unsafe contract and this is showing our strength of feeling,” she told the Press Association. |
| “We are here to show Jeremy Hunt that we will not accept that contract.” | “We are here to show Jeremy Hunt that we will not accept that contract.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.47pm BST | at 4.47pm BST |
| 4.18pm BST | 4.18pm BST |
| 16:18 | 16:18 |
| The march is on the move now towards Westminster, where doctors and supporters will eventually assemble in Parliament Square. | The march is on the move now towards Westminster, where doctors and supporters will eventually assemble in Parliament Square. |
| Doctors march on Westminster #juniorcontract pic.twitter.com/aOh9ezoYFx | Doctors march on Westminster #juniorcontract pic.twitter.com/aOh9ezoYFx |
| And off we march... #juniorcontract #saveourNHS #notfairnotsafe pic.twitter.com/sIWSqdWDhj | And off we march... #juniorcontract #saveourNHS #notfairnotsafe pic.twitter.com/sIWSqdWDhj |
| On foot and on wheels the protest over the #juniorcontract is on the move pic.twitter.com/AbozQUaSVA | On foot and on wheels the protest over the #juniorcontract is on the move pic.twitter.com/AbozQUaSVA |
| 4.13pm BST | 4.13pm BST |
| 16:13 | 16:13 |
| It’s fair to say there’s unlikely to be any aggravation for police at this particular demonstration. | It’s fair to say there’s unlikely to be any aggravation for police at this particular demonstration. |
| "This is the most polite gathering of people ever" says @metpoliceuk officer #juniorprotest #juniorcontract | "This is the most polite gathering of people ever" says @metpoliceuk officer #juniorprotest #juniorcontract |
| 4.09pm BST | 4.09pm BST |
| 16:09 | 16:09 |
| 3.56pm BST | 3.56pm BST |
| 15:56 | 15:56 |
| Harry Leslie Smith: NHS is UK's greatest achievement | Harry Leslie Smith: NHS is UK's greatest achievement |
| Harry Leslie Smith, the 92-year-old NHS activist, is speaking at the rally in Waterloo Place now. | Harry Leslie Smith, the 92-year-old NHS activist, is speaking at the rally in Waterloo Place now. |
| The NHS is “Britain’s greatest achievement”, he said, because it has freed millions from the worry of having to pay if they fell sick. | The NHS is “Britain’s greatest achievement”, he said, because it has freed millions from the worry of having to pay if they fell sick. |
| Our @Harryslaststand on stage telling us of pre #NHS times #SaveOurNHS #notsafenotfair #juniorcontracts pic.twitter.com/ntmP1GuTIi | Our @Harryslaststand on stage telling us of pre #NHS times #SaveOurNHS #notsafenotfair #juniorcontracts pic.twitter.com/ntmP1GuTIi |
| An honour to see @Harryslaststand standing with junior doctors against the #juniorcontract pic.twitter.com/WO7RvhJzxa | An honour to see @Harryslaststand standing with junior doctors against the #juniorcontract pic.twitter.com/WO7RvhJzxa |
| The pensioner told the crowd about his life as a child before the creation of the NHS, when his mother could not afford medical treatment and his sister died in a workhouse infirmary. | The pensioner told the crowd about his life as a child before the creation of the NHS, when his mother could not afford medical treatment and his sister died in a workhouse infirmary. |
| Hero #juniorcontract @Harryslaststand pic.twitter.com/JdQmQ2Rcll | Hero #juniorcontract @Harryslaststand pic.twitter.com/JdQmQ2Rcll |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.02pm BST | at 4.02pm BST |
| 3.51pm BST | 3.51pm BST |
| 15:51 | 15:51 |
| The protest has a distinctly musical flavour (those multi-talented doctors) with chants including “there’s only one Nye Bevan”. | The protest has a distinctly musical flavour (those multi-talented doctors) with chants including “there’s only one Nye Bevan”. |
| #juniordoctors assembling in Waterloo Place, London #notsafenotfair #juniorcontract #saveourNHS #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/ICKGxiG7Sv | #juniordoctors assembling in Waterloo Place, London #notsafenotfair #juniorcontract #saveourNHS #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/ICKGxiG7Sv |
| Earlier in the march, protesters were treated to a rendition of a song that riffs Jessie J’s song Price Tag - with the refrain “it’s not about the money, money, money”. | Earlier in the march, protesters were treated to a rendition of a song that riffs Jessie J’s song Price Tag - with the refrain “it’s not about the money, money, money”. |
| #juniorprotest #juniorcontract #notfairnotsafe amazing scenes pic.twitter.com/T0GP23xbZw | #juniorprotest #juniorcontract #notfairnotsafe amazing scenes pic.twitter.com/T0GP23xbZw |
| 3.46pm BST | 3.46pm BST |
| 15:46 | 15:46 |
| The crowd has also been hearing from TV doctor Ranj Singh, a 36-year-old paediatrician who has appeared on Good Morning Britain and CBeebies. | The crowd has also been hearing from TV doctor Ranj Singh, a 36-year-old paediatrician who has appeared on Good Morning Britain and CBeebies. |
| On the new contract he said: “They’re not fair and they’re not safe. For anybody involved - that’s patients and staff.” | On the new contract he said: “They’re not fair and they’re not safe. For anybody involved - that’s patients and staff.” |
| He said there has to be a willingness to discuss options, adding: “We want what is best for our patients.” | He said there has to be a willingness to discuss options, adding: “We want what is best for our patients.” |
| Amazing speech by @DrRanj at the #juniordoctors protest! pic.twitter.com/j4pg9C0e9B | Amazing speech by @DrRanj at the #juniordoctors protest! pic.twitter.com/j4pg9C0e9B |
| 3.41pm BST | 3.41pm BST |
| 15:41 | 15:41 |
| Peter Stefanovic, a partner in the clinical negligence department at Simpson Millar solicitors, has given a rousing speech to the assembled crowd in London. | Peter Stefanovic, a partner in the clinical negligence department at Simpson Millar solicitors, has given a rousing speech to the assembled crowd in London. |
| "Everybody in the UK should be here standing shoulder to shoulder with you today" - Peter Stefanovic, med negligence lawyer #notfairnotsafe | "Everybody in the UK should be here standing shoulder to shoulder with you today" - Peter Stefanovic, med negligence lawyer #notfairnotsafe |
| Asked about the new contract, he told the Press Association: | Asked about the new contract, he told the Press Association: |
| It’s an absolute public disgrace. An absolute public disgrace. The injustice staggers the imagination. | It’s an absolute public disgrace. An absolute public disgrace. The injustice staggers the imagination. |
| I am quite frankly astonished that I’m the only advocate that has come forward to fight for the junior doctors. | I am quite frankly astonished that I’m the only advocate that has come forward to fight for the junior doctors. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.42pm BST | at 3.42pm BST |
| 3.21pm BST | 3.21pm BST |
| 15:21 | 15:21 |
| This latest aerial photograph shows the huge numbers attending the London protest in Waterloo Place. Demonstrators will be leaving shortly for a march to Parliament. | This latest aerial photograph shows the huge numbers attending the London protest in Waterloo Place. Demonstrators will be leaving shortly for a march to Parliament. |
| Wow! #juniorcontract #todaywemarch #notfairnotsafe @UKWENTs @TheBMA @jessicaelgot pic.twitter.com/R0rtINElmf | Wow! #juniorcontract #todaywemarch #notfairnotsafe @UKWENTs @TheBMA @jessicaelgot pic.twitter.com/R0rtINElmf |
| 3.19pm BST | 3.19pm BST |
| 15:19 | 15:19 |
| Half of Britons believe weekend hospital care puts them in danger | Half of Britons believe weekend hospital care puts them in danger |
| Half of British adults believe they would be in greater danger if they were admitted to hospital at the weekend, a new Observer/Opinium poll says. | Half of British adults believe they would be in greater danger if they were admitted to hospital at the weekend, a new Observer/Opinium poll says. |
| The research, designed to measure the impact of Jeremy Hunt’s assertion that patients admitted to hospital at weekends were 15% more likely to die, found a significant numbers of patients had delayed trips to the doctors on a Saturday and Sunday. | The research, designed to measure the impact of Jeremy Hunt’s assertion that patients admitted to hospital at weekends were 15% more likely to die, found a significant numbers of patients had delayed trips to the doctors on a Saturday and Sunday. |
| The figures showed that 35% of adults have delayed seeking medical help at the weekend. Some put off visiting a doctor because their illnesses were minor, but 21% delayed their visit because they feared the quality of care would be lower. | The figures showed that 35% of adults have delayed seeking medical help at the weekend. Some put off visiting a doctor because their illnesses were minor, but 21% delayed their visit because they feared the quality of care would be lower. |
| Here’s the full piece: | Here’s the full piece: |
| Related: Half of Britons believe weekend hospital admissions 'more dangerous' | Related: Half of Britons believe weekend hospital admissions 'more dangerous' |
| Would you delay going to hospital over a weekend? Let us know in the comments. | Would you delay going to hospital over a weekend? Let us know in the comments. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.42pm BST | at 3.42pm BST |