This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/live/2016/apr/26/junior-doctors-start-first-all-out-strike-live
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Junior doctors: Hunt labels first all-out strike in history a 'bleak day' for the NHS - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.01am BST | |
| 09:01 | |
| Picket numbers at Kings College are picking up now, reports Damien Gayle. Some doctors have emerged dazed from night shifts, while bleary-eyed others have got upearly to attend. | |
| Jack Grenville (picture attached), 32, a foundation year two doctor working in respiratory medicine, said he was on the picket “to demonstrate our staunch opposition to the government’s approach to the negotiations and the unsafe and unfair contract.” | |
| He went on: “The government says the only issue remaining is Saturday pay, and that’s just not true. There are so many problems with this contract that I believe there should be a moratorium and we should go back to the drawing board. It’s unworkable the government has consistently misappropriated statistics and lied in order to justify its position. | |
| 8.57am BST | |
| 08:57 | |
| Aisha Gani | |
| Aisha Gani is at St Thomas’ hospital, across the river Thames from the Houses of Parliament, where dozens of junior doctors in their scrubs, some with stethoscopes around their necks held placards. | |
| When the chimes of Big Ben rang out from across the river, doctors waved their banners for the waiting press, while vans beeped their support as they drove past. | |
| Adrian Li, a junior doctor on core medical training who graduated four years ago, said: “Essentially this contract is not safe. In my department three junior doctors are covering 80 patients. All of those patients see one of us every day. At nights and on weekends one junior doctor covers. If Jeremy Hunt thinks two can cover the same number of patients some of those patients will go a day without seeing a doctor at all. It’s impossible in the time we have. The service is already stretched unless more doctors are in. The maths doesn’t add up.” | |
| Andrew, in child health said: “I’m impressed by the plans in place and would be comfortable sending anyone in my family to a hospital today. I’m out for two reasons. I feel disillusioned, angry and hurt by what has been said in the media. I am absolutely shocked by what has been said by Jeremy Hunt and his team and by the concerted effort to mislead the public. I am disappointed an elected member of parliament can act unethically like this.” | |
| Here at St Thomas' Hospital. With the chimes of Big Ben ringing across the water, junior doctors begin their strike pic.twitter.com/TqD6obWEbl | |
| 8.41am BST | |
| 08:41 | |
| Damien Gayle | |
| Damien Gayle says junior doctors are still setting up their pickets outside Kings College hospital, London. | |
| A marquee has been erected in front of the historic main entrance, banners are being lifted into place, megaphones stand ready and on the floor lies a pile of homemade placards. Prince blares put of a portable PA and passing drivers are beeping their horns in support. | |
| James Hilton, 32, an intensive care doctor, said: “Obviously we’d rather not. Is rather be at work doing the job that I love - but we’ve been left with no options.” | |
| #juniordoctors set up placards at kings college hospital #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/jbAqiRe5nW | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.44am BST | |
| 8.37am BST | |
| 08:37 | |
| Frances Perraudin | |
| My colleague, France Perraudin, has been talking to a BMA official based in Hull who says junior doctors are enjoying support from their colleagues. | |
| Dr Ellen McCourt, deputy chair of the BMA’s northern regional junior doctors committee, said junior doctors were now in the unusual situation of being quite used to industrial action. | |
| “A year ago we wouldn’t have had the slightest idea what to do,” she said. McCourt, who works in Hull, said that all of the hospitals in her area had been able to staff their emergency rotas appropriately. | |
| “We’ve not been made aware of any trusts being particularly obstructive or going out of their way to make things difficult. They all seem to have taken on board that they will have to postpone some elective work in order to prepare,” she said. | |
| “While it’s not impossible that some trusts may not have postponed enough elective work, our juniors aren’t reporting back that there have been any difficulties. There are consultants and specialist grade doctors who are prepared to step up and provide cover because they appreciate the severity of the situation that we’ve found ourselves in.” | |
| McCourt says junior doctors in her area are enjoying huge support from their colleagues. | |
| “There are individuals who may not agree with everything we’re doing,” she said. “There are some people who don’t agree with industrial action at all, but the majority of consultants and specialists that we’ve spoken to are backing the junior doctors. | |
| “They agree that we’ve been put in an impossible position and that we’ve tried everything else and that there are very few roads left for us to go down. It’s helpful for us to have that backing knowing that the senior doctors are very able and very confident and have got your back and are prepared to do your job in your absence and keep the patients safe.” | |
| She adds: “You need that reassurance, that someone is going to keep your patients safe, otherwise you would be very uncomfortable about taking this step.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.39am BST | |
| 8.29am BST | 8.29am BST |
| 08:29 | 08:29 |
| Nick Robinson’s last question is: “are you part of the problem?” Hunt says health secretaries are never popular but as far as he’s concerned the question he poses himself is: Did you take the tough decisions for the NHS to deliver better care, that’s what I’m absolutely determined to do. | Nick Robinson’s last question is: “are you part of the problem?” Hunt says health secretaries are never popular but as far as he’s concerned the question he poses himself is: Did you take the tough decisions for the NHS to deliver better care, that’s what I’m absolutely determined to do. |
| 8.24am BST | 8.24am BST |
| 08:24 | 08:24 |
| Jeremy Hunt rejects comparisons with miners' strike | Jeremy Hunt rejects comparisons with miners' strike |
| Jeremy Hunt is on the Today programme, being questioned by Nick Robinson. | Jeremy Hunt is on the Today programme, being questioned by Nick Robinson. |
| He denies that the government is itching for a fight, insisting that it has been trying hard for three years to find an agreement. As for comparisons for the miners’ strike, Hunt says he is not making such comparisons - as some ministers seem to be saying in background briefings. Given the government efforts to find a deal, Hunt says today’s action is not proportionate. The health secretary began by saying the government was trying to negotiate with the British Medical Association on a reasonable manifesto commitment for a seven-day contract. “It’s a very bleak day,” said Hunt. | He denies that the government is itching for a fight, insisting that it has been trying hard for three years to find an agreement. As for comparisons for the miners’ strike, Hunt says he is not making such comparisons - as some ministers seem to be saying in background briefings. Given the government efforts to find a deal, Hunt says today’s action is not proportionate. The health secretary began by saying the government was trying to negotiate with the British Medical Association on a reasonable manifesto commitment for a seven-day contract. “It’s a very bleak day,” said Hunt. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.29am BST | at 8.29am BST |
| 8.12am BST | 8.12am BST |
| 08:12 | 08:12 |
| What are the other papers saying about today’s stoppage? For the Telegraph, it is definitely a “miners’ moment”. | What are the other papers saying about today’s stoppage? For the Telegraph, it is definitely a “miners’ moment”. |
| Who governs? That question, first posed by Sir Edward Heath in 1974, defined politics for the following decade, as successive governments struggled with trade unions whose ability to disrupt public services and strategic industries gave them clout to rival that of elected politicians. It was answered, decisively and to the benefit of the whole country, by Margaret Thatcher. | Who governs? That question, first posed by Sir Edward Heath in 1974, defined politics for the following decade, as successive governments struggled with trade unions whose ability to disrupt public services and strategic industries gave them clout to rival that of elected politicians. It was answered, decisively and to the benefit of the whole country, by Margaret Thatcher. |
| Sadly, that question has been raised once again by the British Medical Association and the all-out strike by junior doctors it has called. The union wants those doctors to withhold all care for patients today and tomorrow, even those needing emergency care. Its industrial action has already harmed patients: tens of thousands of planned operations have been cancelled, causing distress and pain. We can only pray that this is the worst harm caused by the BMA’s militancy. | Sadly, that question has been raised once again by the British Medical Association and the all-out strike by junior doctors it has called. The union wants those doctors to withhold all care for patients today and tomorrow, even those needing emergency care. Its industrial action has already harmed patients: tens of thousands of planned operations have been cancelled, causing distress and pain. We can only pray that this is the worst harm caused by the BMA’s militancy. |
| Hugo Rifkind at the Times thinks the junior doctors are making a big mistake (paywall). | Hugo Rifkind at the Times thinks the junior doctors are making a big mistake (paywall). |
| The longer strikes go on, the more routine operations are cancelled, the more — God forbid — patients die, then the more people, or at least, some people, will start to question their priorities. The government’s own callous intransigence will, of course, also be noted but that won’t make much difference because it already is. | The longer strikes go on, the more routine operations are cancelled, the more — God forbid — patients die, then the more people, or at least, some people, will start to question their priorities. The government’s own callous intransigence will, of course, also be noted but that won’t make much difference because it already is. |
| Doctors have more to lose. The argument that junior doctors on bad contracts pose a greater risk to the public than no junior doctors at all is simply not politically tenable, even if it were true, which it isn’t either. Sympathy will ebb, and criticism will mount, and stricken young medical professionals will retaliate, and look dreadful doing so, because their training is not in public relations but in saving lives. Then older doctors will denounce them, as they are already starting to, and the cycle will continue, and it will ebb some more. | Doctors have more to lose. The argument that junior doctors on bad contracts pose a greater risk to the public than no junior doctors at all is simply not politically tenable, even if it were true, which it isn’t either. Sympathy will ebb, and criticism will mount, and stricken young medical professionals will retaliate, and look dreadful doing so, because their training is not in public relations but in saving lives. Then older doctors will denounce them, as they are already starting to, and the cycle will continue, and it will ebb some more. |
| 8.06am BST | 8.06am BST |
| 08:06 | 08:06 |
| Heidi Alexander MP, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: | |
| “Nobody wanted to see this strike go ahead, least of all junior doctors. But Jeremy Hunt’s handling of this dispute has been utterly shambolic. Even at the eleventh hour, Jeremy Hunt refused to back a cross-party proposal which could have helped to stop this week’s strike from going ahead. When he could have compromised and put patients first, he chose strikes. We desperately need to find a resolution to this dispute. I urge Jeremy Hunt to think again, get back round the negotiating table and do what is right for patients.” | “Nobody wanted to see this strike go ahead, least of all junior doctors. But Jeremy Hunt’s handling of this dispute has been utterly shambolic. Even at the eleventh hour, Jeremy Hunt refused to back a cross-party proposal which could have helped to stop this week’s strike from going ahead. When he could have compromised and put patients first, he chose strikes. We desperately need to find a resolution to this dispute. I urge Jeremy Hunt to think again, get back round the negotiating table and do what is right for patients.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.34am BST | |
| 7.56am BST | 7.56am BST |
| 07:56 | 07:56 |
| Ahead of today’s action, the Guardian spoke to patients. Here is a flavour of what they said. | Ahead of today’s action, the Guardian spoke to patients. Here is a flavour of what they said. |
| Kate Stewart, a patient from Lincolnshire. | Kate Stewart, a patient from Lincolnshire. |
| “I fully support the strike. The medics have made it clear that the strike could be called off by offering numerous olive branches, compromises or invitations to talk further; the reason it is going ahead is down to Hunt’s stubbornness. But in truth, I think we know that this is all part of a plan to dismantle our NHS, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Nothing will persuade Hunt to agree to anything that will call off the strike, and I don’t get the impression that he feels any regret about this.” | “I fully support the strike. The medics have made it clear that the strike could be called off by offering numerous olive branches, compromises or invitations to talk further; the reason it is going ahead is down to Hunt’s stubbornness. But in truth, I think we know that this is all part of a plan to dismantle our NHS, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Nothing will persuade Hunt to agree to anything that will call off the strike, and I don’t get the impression that he feels any regret about this.” |
| Anonymous, 52, from Hartlepool. | Anonymous, 52, from Hartlepool. |
| My wife is due an endoscopy for possible bowel cancer this Wednesday. She’s scared enough as it is without worrying whether her appointment may either be delayed or cancelled at the last minute... Withdrawing medical aid to those in need breaks the Hippocratic oath that all doctors vow to do at the start of their career. Those participating in industrial action who have stated that they withdraw their services from saving lives are now playing at God. That is unforgivable. As soon as junior doctors chose to withdraw care and treatment they lost my sympathy. | My wife is due an endoscopy for possible bowel cancer this Wednesday. She’s scared enough as it is without worrying whether her appointment may either be delayed or cancelled at the last minute... Withdrawing medical aid to those in need breaks the Hippocratic oath that all doctors vow to do at the start of their career. Those participating in industrial action who have stated that they withdraw their services from saving lives are now playing at God. That is unforgivable. As soon as junior doctors chose to withdraw care and treatment they lost my sympathy. |
| 7.47am BST | 7.47am BST |
| 07:47 | 07:47 |
| “We’re seeing today that support for the junior doctors is still prevalent among much of the public, even when emergency care is withheld. However, support is not as high as when we were polling for the strikes where emergency care was provided, as we suggested might happen in January. However, the erosion of public support has not been as stark as the January polling suggested, and the public still have some patience left for the junior doctors’ cause.” | “We’re seeing today that support for the junior doctors is still prevalent among much of the public, even when emergency care is withheld. However, support is not as high as when we were polling for the strikes where emergency care was provided, as we suggested might happen in January. However, the erosion of public support has not been as stark as the January polling suggested, and the public still have some patience left for the junior doctors’ cause.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.04am BST | at 8.04am BST |
| 7.36am BST | 7.36am BST |
| 07:36 | 07:36 |
| The NHS enters uncharted territory as junior doctors in England begin an all-out strike for the first time in its history. The stoppage begins at 8am and lasts until 5pm and there will be more of the same tomorrow. Unlike previous stoppages that began in January over a new contract the health secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to impose, junior doctors this time have refused to work in any area of medical care, including A&E and maternity services. Cover in those areas will be provided by senior consultants. Inevitably, the dispute has become more politicised and polarised with time, to the point where some senior ministers have described the confrontation as “a miners’ moment”, when Margaret Thatcher clashed with the National Union of Mineworkers in the early 1980s. We’ll be bringing you all the latest developments throughout the day with the help of colleagues around the country. Meanwhile, here is the Guardian’s coverage this morning. | The NHS enters uncharted territory as junior doctors in England begin an all-out strike for the first time in its history. The stoppage begins at 8am and lasts until 5pm and there will be more of the same tomorrow. Unlike previous stoppages that began in January over a new contract the health secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to impose, junior doctors this time have refused to work in any area of medical care, including A&E and maternity services. Cover in those areas will be provided by senior consultants. Inevitably, the dispute has become more politicised and polarised with time, to the point where some senior ministers have described the confrontation as “a miners’ moment”, when Margaret Thatcher clashed with the National Union of Mineworkers in the early 1980s. We’ll be bringing you all the latest developments throughout the day with the help of colleagues around the country. Meanwhile, here is the Guardian’s coverage this morning. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.21am BST | at 8.21am BST |