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| Junior doctors strike for fourth time over new contract - live updates | Junior doctors strike for fourth time over new contract - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.04am BST | |
| 10:04 | |
| Annie Gouk, is at Wythenshawe hospital, in south Manchester, for the Guardian. She writes: | |
| A major internal incident was announced yesterday due to “huge pressures” on the A&E department. More than 20 junior doctors have gathered despite the grim weather , playing cheesy pop, sharing around chocolate and waving banners. Cars and buses have been beeping support as they pass. | |
| 9.56am BST | |
| 09:56 | |
| A petition of 120,000 signatures organised by the Care2 community website is to be delivered to the Department of Health, on Whitehall, in central London, at 11.30am. | |
| There will be a rally from 11am with speeches. There will be a fire engine there as well as junior doctors, nurses, teachers and members of the fire brigade union. Vanessa Redgrave will also reportedly be there. | |
| The rallying cry says: | |
| Join us to show your support in person. | |
| The government will not budge despite all of the evidence which proves they are in the wrong. | |
| The 7 day NHS rhetoric we know is an uncosted, not funded, dangerous policy for the NHS and patients and the workforce will be left to deal with the inevitable harm to patients. | |
| 9.37am BST | |
| 09:37 | |
| Stephen Mangan and other stars of the medical comedy Green Wing, are going to be showing their support for the junior doctors at Northwick Park hospital in north-west London today. | |
| 5 of us #GreenWing ‘docs’ are going to Northwick Park Hospital (where we filmed the series) tomorrow to support the junior docs. | |
| Mac, Caroline, Boyce, Guy and Joanna Clore https://t.co/sLUVXtfjgh | |
| 2 surgeons, a house officer, the HR director and a sexy Swiss anaesthetist - Northwick Park Hospital at 11am #juniorcontract #GreenWing | |
| 9.28am BST | 9.28am BST |
| 09:28 | 09:28 |
| Junior doctor Cheryl Battersby told Rebecca Pinnington, who is at St George’s for the Guardian, that hospitals could benefit from more doctors on the weekend but it needs to be done “in the right way which is extra resources, extra funding, more doctors and it’s not making the doctors who are already there work more weekends”. | Junior doctor Cheryl Battersby told Rebecca Pinnington, who is at St George’s for the Guardian, that hospitals could benefit from more doctors on the weekend but it needs to be done “in the right way which is extra resources, extra funding, more doctors and it’s not making the doctors who are already there work more weekends”. |
| Cheryl Battersby is concerned the new contract is unsafe for her patients #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/KscpDHO9Be | Cheryl Battersby is concerned the new contract is unsafe for her patients #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/KscpDHO9Be |
| Cheryl continues - 7 day week is a good goal but pursued in the wrong way #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/x7NoXn0Y9W | Cheryl continues - 7 day week is a good goal but pursued in the wrong way #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/x7NoXn0Y9W |
| 9.22am BST | 9.22am BST |
| 09:22 | 09:22 |
| Here are some more images from picket lines: | Here are some more images from picket lines: |
| Lots of support for #juniordoctors at Calderdale today #JuniorDoctorsStrike @TheBMA @johannmalawana pic.twitter.com/5j3B8uZA4z | Lots of support for #juniordoctors at Calderdale today #JuniorDoctorsStrike @TheBMA @johannmalawana pic.twitter.com/5j3B8uZA4z |
| @whitden #juniordoctors #Bradford doctors' strike pic.twitter.com/92j9a1lw3a | @whitden #juniordoctors #Bradford doctors' strike pic.twitter.com/92j9a1lw3a |
| Striking at St Mary's for a safe and fair contract! @TheBMA @drcjar #juniordoctors #notsafenotfair pic.twitter.com/nsz2VK8Bs3 | Striking at St Mary's for a safe and fair contract! @TheBMA @drcjar #juniordoctors #notsafenotfair pic.twitter.com/nsz2VK8Bs3 |
| Early starters at the Fulham Road hospitals - come join @RBandH @royalmarsden @aislinnmacklin #juniordoctors pic.twitter.com/awWhpy1vOU | Early starters at the Fulham Road hospitals - come join @RBandH @royalmarsden @aislinnmacklin #juniordoctors pic.twitter.com/awWhpy1vOU |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.23am BST | at 9.23am BST |
| 9.15am BST | 9.15am BST |
| 09:15 | 09:15 |
| Imogen Clarke, a junior doctor of 11 years is handing out badges and stickers at St George’s hospital, in south London. She said she was here “because the government has imposed a contract the BMA said is unfair. It’s untried and untested but the government are pushing through soundbite policy without saying what it means.” | Imogen Clarke, a junior doctor of 11 years is handing out badges and stickers at St George’s hospital, in south London. She said she was here “because the government has imposed a contract the BMA said is unfair. It’s untried and untested but the government are pushing through soundbite policy without saying what it means.” |
| Something doesn’t add up I think the big problem is that we are thin on the ground already but do cover for goodwill. We already feel burdened with the gaps in the rota.” | Something doesn’t add up I think the big problem is that we are thin on the ground already but do cover for goodwill. We already feel burdened with the gaps in the rota.” |
| If they push through this contract we will have good hard look at why we are in this career and then they’ll be left with even more gaps. | If they push through this contract we will have good hard look at why we are in this career and then they’ll be left with even more gaps. |
| Imogen Clarke said the junior doctors contract is "unfair, untried and untested" and 7 day NHS is a soundbite policy pic.twitter.com/mD8Nv77y2s | Imogen Clarke said the junior doctors contract is "unfair, untried and untested" and 7 day NHS is a soundbite policy pic.twitter.com/mD8Nv77y2s |
| Carrie Thomas, junior doctor of eight years has just come off a nightshift in A&E at St George’s. Although she can’t strike as she is on emergency cover, she is supporting her colleagues. She has another nightshift this evening. She said: | Carrie Thomas, junior doctor of eight years has just come off a nightshift in A&E at St George’s. Although she can’t strike as she is on emergency cover, she is supporting her colleagues. She has another nightshift this evening. She said: |
| I think the contract will drive people out and it will impact me greater as I will be on training for longer. We are particular lucky here as we have 24 hour cover. | I think the contract will drive people out and it will impact me greater as I will be on training for longer. We are particular lucky here as we have 24 hour cover. |
| But I know a lot of us have applied abroad - I’ve applied to a hospital in Wales. | But I know a lot of us have applied abroad - I’ve applied to a hospital in Wales. |
| We’re worries we are spread so thin and if we can’t get patients out [of hospital] then we can’t keep patient flow moving. | We’re worries we are spread so thin and if we can’t get patients out [of hospital] then we can’t keep patient flow moving. |
| Carrie Thomas, jnr doctor of 8 years, has come off her nightshift in A&E. She is on another nightshift this eve pic.twitter.com/6kwpkLec7O | Carrie Thomas, jnr doctor of 8 years, has come off her nightshift in A&E. She is on another nightshift this eve pic.twitter.com/6kwpkLec7O |
| 9.09am BST | 9.09am BST |
| 09:09 | 09:09 |
| Rebecca Pinnington, also at St George’s for the Guardian writes: | Rebecca Pinnington, also at St George’s for the Guardian writes: |
| St Georges has typically seen a walkout rate of over 90% during the strike, and doctors here today anticipate more of the same. | St Georges has typically seen a walkout rate of over 90% during the strike, and doctors here today anticipate more of the same. |
| Asked whether he felt optimistic in light of the Department of Health’s insistence that the new contract will be imposed, junior doctor George Lawson said: | Asked whether he felt optimistic in light of the Department of Health’s insistence that the new contract will be imposed, junior doctor George Lawson said: |
| I do think better media PR from the BMA would be useful and would help us get our message out there. I think it does make a difference, people do notice when doctors strike for the first time in over forty years, but I think the problem is that the message behind the strike might have not got through so it doesn’t resonate. I think it’s embarrassing for the Department of Health, but I don’t think there’s enough pressure being put on. | I do think better media PR from the BMA would be useful and would help us get our message out there. I think it does make a difference, people do notice when doctors strike for the first time in over forty years, but I think the problem is that the message behind the strike might have not got through so it doesn’t resonate. I think it’s embarrassing for the Department of Health, but I don’t think there’s enough pressure being put on. |
| The Equality Assessment that came out last week effectively says this is a sexist contract which disproportionately disadvantages women and other sole providers of care. [...] Then in the next paragraph it says that it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, effectively saying that women are collateral damage and okay to be disadvantaged in order to push the contract through. | The Equality Assessment that came out last week effectively says this is a sexist contract which disproportionately disadvantages women and other sole providers of care. [...] Then in the next paragraph it says that it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, effectively saying that women are collateral damage and okay to be disadvantaged in order to push the contract through. |
| 9.02am BST | 9.02am BST |
| 09:02 | 09:02 |
| Here is NHS England’s advice to patients during the industrial action. Although emergency care is excluded from the current strike, A&E departments are likely to be under increased pressure. Most of the advice is common sense and applies equally on a normal day. | Here is NHS England’s advice to patients during the industrial action. Although emergency care is excluded from the current strike, A&E departments are likely to be under increased pressure. Most of the advice is common sense and applies equally on a normal day. |
| NHS England industrial action statement: https://t.co/sdfkPvXcYQ pic.twitter.com/FcjXc1SkMJ | NHS England industrial action statement: https://t.co/sdfkPvXcYQ pic.twitter.com/FcjXc1SkMJ |
| 8.59am BST | 8.59am BST |
| 08:59 | 08:59 |
| Here are some updates from our northern reporter Frances Perraudin: | Here are some updates from our northern reporter Frances Perraudin: |
| The picket line outside Manchester Royal Infirmary. "Get back inside and work," says Darth Hunt. pic.twitter.com/dqVvTehRpS | The picket line outside Manchester Royal Infirmary. "Get back inside and work," says Darth Hunt. pic.twitter.com/dqVvTehRpS |
| A picket line outside Manchester Royal Infirmary, where around 700 junior doctors work. About half are on strike. pic.twitter.com/5MJzJ2TRCV | A picket line outside Manchester Royal Infirmary, where around 700 junior doctors work. About half are on strike. pic.twitter.com/5MJzJ2TRCV |
| 8.56am BST | 8.56am BST |
| 08:56 | 08:56 |
| On a drizzly spring day, junior doctors in hi-vis jackets have set up a stall outside St George’s hospital, in Tooting, south-west London, and are handing out stickers to passers by. | On a drizzly spring day, junior doctors in hi-vis jackets have set up a stall outside St George’s hospital, in Tooting, south-west London, and are handing out stickers to passers by. |
| Speaking to the Guardian, Niall Durrant, who has been a junior doctor for 20 months, said: | Speaking to the Guardian, Niall Durrant, who has been a junior doctor for 20 months, said: |
| I’m here because I’m a junior doctor and work at the hospital and can’t imagine where else I’d be working. | I’m here because I’m a junior doctor and work at the hospital and can’t imagine where else I’d be working. |
| It’s incredibly disappointing in my first few years to have the government turn on us. | It’s incredibly disappointing in my first few years to have the government turn on us. |
| I have friends who will be impacted. I’m a young male but I have a little sister who wants to be a doctor and don’t know what to tell her [about entering the profession]. | I have friends who will be impacted. I’m a young male but I have a little sister who wants to be a doctor and don’t know what to tell her [about entering the profession]. |
| It’s difficult to strike, I don’t even like to be a ward away but I know my consultants [who are covering] and they have been fantastic and supportive. | It’s difficult to strike, I don’t even like to be a ward away but I know my consultants [who are covering] and they have been fantastic and supportive. |
| Niall a jnr doctor said: I'm a young male, but what do I tell my little sister who wants to be a doctor? pic.twitter.com/vhJHQ9MiqK | Niall a jnr doctor said: I'm a young male, but what do I tell my little sister who wants to be a doctor? pic.twitter.com/vhJHQ9MiqK |
| 8.42am BST | 8.42am BST |
| 08:42 | 08:42 |
| Here are some early pictures from today’s strike. | Here are some early pictures from today’s strike. |
| Some of the striking #JuniorDoctors at St Thomas' hospital today. @GMB @ITVLorraine pic.twitter.com/A5zTvgeVFD | Some of the striking #JuniorDoctors at St Thomas' hospital today. @GMB @ITVLorraine pic.twitter.com/A5zTvgeVFD |
| .@MaudsleyNHS #juniordoctors start 48h #JuniorDoctorsStrike today. #juniorcontract disproportionately affects women. pic.twitter.com/hALSKbjiHw | .@MaudsleyNHS #juniordoctors start 48h #JuniorDoctorsStrike today. #juniorcontract disproportionately affects women. pic.twitter.com/hALSKbjiHw |
| March Supporting #juniordoctors today up Edward Street. Keep it up guys! pic.twitter.com/V2XYk8w8TR | March Supporting #juniordoctors today up Edward Street. Keep it up guys! pic.twitter.com/V2XYk8w8TR |
| 8.27am BST | 8.27am BST |
| 08:27 | 08:27 |
| Actor and comedian David Schneider has posted an imaginary conversation about the Jeremy Hunt ordering a sandwich, which he says is a metaphor for the health secretary’s handling of the junior doctors’ contract. | Actor and comedian David Schneider has posted an imaginary conversation about the Jeremy Hunt ordering a sandwich, which he says is a metaphor for the health secretary’s handling of the junior doctors’ contract. |
| A reminder of how Jeremy Hunt orders a sandwich. A metaphor in one act.#JuniorDoctorsStrike #juniordoctors pic.twitter.com/1kudwEjAoT | A reminder of how Jeremy Hunt orders a sandwich. A metaphor in one act.#JuniorDoctorsStrike #juniordoctors pic.twitter.com/1kudwEjAoT |
| 8.09am BST | 8.09am BST |
| 08:09 | 08:09 |
| The latest YouGov poll found that 45% of people blame the Department of Health for the contract dispute, compared with 12% pointing the finger at the BMA. A significant minority - 30% - said the blame was equally shared. | The latest YouGov poll found that 45% of people blame the Department of Health for the contract dispute, compared with 12% pointing the finger at the BMA. A significant minority - 30% - said the blame was equally shared. |
| Support for industrial action is at 59% when junior doctors in emergency care do not take part (as in all strikes to date including the one beginning today), according to the poll. Just under a quarter (23%) oppose such action. | Support for industrial action is at 59% when junior doctors in emergency care do not take part (as in all strikes to date including the one beginning today), according to the poll. Just under a quarter (23%) oppose such action. |
| When asked about backing for a full withdrawal of labour, including junior doctors working in emergency care, support fell to 45%, compared with 38% against such action. The first full strike by junior doctors is scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 April. | When asked about backing for a full withdrawal of labour, including junior doctors working in emergency care, support fell to 45%, compared with 38% against such action. The first full strike by junior doctors is scheduled to take place on 26 and 27 April. |
| 8.01am BST | 8.01am BST |
| 08:01 | 08:01 |
| The strike has begun. | The strike has begun. |
| The Evening Standard’s health editor says the junior doctors have the backing of the Patients Association. | The Evening Standard’s health editor says the junior doctors have the backing of the Patients Association. |
| Breaking: Patients' Association backs #juniordoctors in latest 48-hour strike action pic.twitter.com/iMxs8ft6Iq | Breaking: Patients' Association backs #juniordoctors in latest 48-hour strike action pic.twitter.com/iMxs8ft6Iq |
| 7.51am BST | 7.51am BST |
| 07:51 | 07:51 |
| At 8am, junior doctors will launch their fourth strike in four months. | At 8am, junior doctors will launch their fourth strike in four months. |
| NHS England says 5,165 operations have been cancelled as a result of the latest walkout. There are usually 31,000 operations in the NHS on any given day, so the total cancelled represents about 8.3% of the total that would usually be carried out over the 48-hour period (62,000). | NHS England says 5,165 operations have been cancelled as a result of the latest walkout. There are usually 31,000 operations in the NHS on any given day, so the total cancelled represents about 8.3% of the total that would usually be carried out over the 48-hour period (62,000). |
| NHS England national incident director Dr Anne Rainsberry warned that “this will be a difficult period especially over the course of the second day”. | NHS England national incident director Dr Anne Rainsberry warned that “this will be a difficult period especially over the course of the second day”. |
| The first two strikes lasted for 24 hours each but the BMA ramped up action after the health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced, following months of fruitless negotiation, that he was imposing the unpopular contract on junior doctors. | The first two strikes lasted for 24 hours each but the BMA ramped up action after the health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced, following months of fruitless negotiation, that he was imposing the unpopular contract on junior doctors. |
| This is the second 48 hour strike and a third two day strike on 26 and 27 April will, for the first time, see a full withdrawal of labour, including from emergency care. All action up to and including the strike beginning today has excluded junior doctors working in life-or-death areas such as A&E and intensive care. | This is the second 48 hour strike and a third two day strike on 26 and 27 April will, for the first time, see a full withdrawal of labour, including from emergency care. All action up to and including the strike beginning today has excluded junior doctors working in life-or-death areas such as A&E and intensive care. |
| Hunt said he imposed the contract - which extends the hours of the junior doctors’ standard working week to include Saturdays and later weekday nights - to deliver the government’s pledge of a seven day NHS and improve patient safety. | Hunt said he imposed the contract - which extends the hours of the junior doctors’ standard working week to include Saturdays and later weekday nights - to deliver the government’s pledge of a seven day NHS and improve patient safety. |
| Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said today: | Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said today: |
| We deeply regret any disruption this action will cause to patients, but it is because we believe this contract would be bad for the delivery of patient care in the long term that we are taking this action. | We deeply regret any disruption this action will cause to patients, but it is because we believe this contract would be bad for the delivery of patient care in the long term that we are taking this action. |
| By imposing a contract that junior doctors have no confidence in and refusing to re-enter talks with the BMA, the government has left us with no choice. | By imposing a contract that junior doctors have no confidence in and refusing to re-enter talks with the BMA, the government has left us with no choice. |
| He urged the government to get back round the negotiating table. | He urged the government to get back round the negotiating table. |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman denounced the strikes as “irresponsible and disproportionate”. She added | A Department of Health spokeswoman denounced the strikes as “irresponsible and disproportionate”. She added |
| With almost 25,000 operations cancelled so far, it is patients who are suffering. | With almost 25,000 operations cancelled so far, it is patients who are suffering. |
| 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. | 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. |
| We will be providing live updates, including from colleagues on the picket lines. | We will be providing live updates, including from colleagues on the picket lines. |
| You can send me pictures etc to haroon(dot)siddique@theguardian.com or tweet me @Haroon_Siddique | You can send me pictures etc to haroon(dot)siddique@theguardian.com or tweet me @Haroon_Siddique |