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| Junior doctors strike: Cameron says withdrawal of emergency care 'not right' - live | Junior doctors strike: Cameron says withdrawal of emergency care 'not right' - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.25pm BST | |
| 15:25 | |
| Denis Campbell | |
| Denis Campbell points us to a blog by the widely-respected NHS commentator Roy Lilley, who slates both sides in the junior doctors’ dispute. First he tackles Jeremy Hunt and his determined campaign to turn the health service in England into a truly seven-day service - which he calls a “world-class cock-up”. | |
| Lilley says: “For the NHS to become a truly seven day service would have been a world-first achievement. So far, making it happen has been a world-class cock-up. Instead of inspiring the NHS to show the world what good looks like, we have provoked the back-bone of the workforce to stand outside hospitals watching ambulances arrive. | |
| “It is because the 7-day ‘thing’ is a work in progress that the DH, whoever the secretary of state may be, cannot give in to the unions. To concede to the BMA is to become a soft touch for the rest of the groups that are likely to rail against inevitable changes to their working practices. The government cannot give in. They cannot have their election pledge blocked by a trades union. The junior doctors have never been the enemy. Their union is…” | |
| Then, moving onto the British Medical Association, he is just as coruscating. | |
| “The BMA find themselves in a similar bind. Recent elections to the BMA council have moved them to the left; they are no friend of this government. This is not about gaps in a rota or a premium for weekend working. This is about the cost of losing a strike. | |
| In the same way the [NHS hospital] trusts are the by-standers in this row; picking up the pieces, making the best of too few staff, too high locum costs and too little money, so the junior doctors, their career and reputations will be the collateral damage in a battle the BMA have been quite happy to see them fight. | |
| The BMA? Stuck with a plan A that hasn’t worked and a plan B that means more strikes and disruption. You can’t dignify it with the word strategy.” | |
| 3.19pm BST | |
| 15:19 | |
| Rachel Sinton, a junior doctor on the picket line outside Royal Liverpool University hospital spoke to Frances Perraudin. She said: | |
| I know so many people who are talking about leaving. They’re demoralised, it just becomes a point where it’s not worth it and we love our jobs. | |
| Rachel Sinton, a junior doc in L'pool, says her colleagues regularly have to do the work of 2 or 3 people. pic.twitter.com/Mr4MUKNbTv | |
| 3.03pm BST | |
| 15:03 | |
| The TUC is being urged to organise a national day of action in support of the junior doctors, reports the Press Association. | |
| The executive of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union called for the idea to be discussed at a meeting of the TUC general council on Wednesday. | |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: | |
| It is increasingly clear that the Government is deliberately stoking the dispute for political reasons, and that the BMA’s brave response continues to be necessary in defence of patient safety. | |
| The junior doctors’ determined action enjoys wide public support and deserves the fullest possible support and solidarity from the trade union movement. | |
| 2.56pm BST | 2.56pm BST |
| 14:56 | 14:56 |
| Damien Gayle is now at Lewisham hospital where hail and snow have forced most of the junior doctors indoors. Jonah Dearlove, a second year trainee in the ear, nose and throat department, explained his opposition to the new contract. At the moment his basic salary is £28,000, which he makes up in unsociable hours payments. | Damien Gayle is now at Lewisham hospital where hail and snow have forced most of the junior doctors indoors. Jonah Dearlove, a second year trainee in the ear, nose and throat department, explained his opposition to the new contract. At the moment his basic salary is £28,000, which he makes up in unsociable hours payments. |
| “At the moment I can diary card, where we record all of our hours, we go through the BMA and if it’s not in compliance with our terms and conditions then they may have to make a payout to the doctors because they classified them under the wrong pay scale. | “At the moment I can diary card, where we record all of our hours, we go through the BMA and if it’s not in compliance with our terms and conditions then they may have to make a payout to the doctors because they classified them under the wrong pay scale. |
| That’s a disincentive for the hospitals to set out rotas that are unsustainable … That stops us from being made to work unsafe hours, and that’s going away.” | |
| According to Dearlove, under the new contracts, instead of having to pay doctors who are being overworked, the hospital would have to pay another fine – to itself. | |
| He went on: “One of the reasons why the contract is being changed is potentially a consequence of the fall-out at Hitchinbrooke (Cambridgeshire), which was taken over by a private company and was given back because they couldn’t run it profitably. | He went on: “One of the reasons why the contract is being changed is potentially a consequence of the fall-out at Hitchinbrooke (Cambridgeshire), which was taken over by a private company and was given back because they couldn’t run it profitably. |
| Jonah Dearlove, Lewisham: "Because we've got a monopoly employer the choice is leave medicine or leave the country" pic.twitter.com/zk9sKCpmMI | Jonah Dearlove, Lewisham: "Because we've got a monopoly employer the choice is leave medicine or leave the country" pic.twitter.com/zk9sKCpmMI |
| “If they change the doctors contract that will be a chance for them to change all the contracts to bring them in line with this model – the nurses, the support staff, the radiographers. They will be able to cheaply move everyone into working at the weekend, low cost and with no safeguards to prevent the hospital – or ultimately the private provider – from imposing unsafe hours. | |
| “NHS budgets are shrinking in real terms and so in order to get the best value for money the hospital, or private provider, is going to want to staff the rotas in a minimal way. If you don’t have any safeguards on working hours there is nothing to prevent one employer from staffing things in such a way that you are well over your [contracted] working hours. That will leave us with tired doctors who are going to make mistakes and put patients at risk.” | “NHS budgets are shrinking in real terms and so in order to get the best value for money the hospital, or private provider, is going to want to staff the rotas in a minimal way. If you don’t have any safeguards on working hours there is nothing to prevent one employer from staffing things in such a way that you are well over your [contracted] working hours. That will leave us with tired doctors who are going to make mistakes and put patients at risk.” |
| Updated | |
| at 3.06pm BST | |
| 2.51pm BST | 2.51pm BST |
| 14:51 | 14:51 |
| This junior doctor wants the health secretary to know the impact working weekends has had on her love life. | This junior doctor wants the health secretary to know the impact working weekends has had on her love life. |
| Best one I've seen so far!(#JuniorDoctorsStrike placard, I mean!) pic.twitter.com/lITO3ToiSo | Best one I've seen so far!(#JuniorDoctorsStrike placard, I mean!) pic.twitter.com/lITO3ToiSo |
| 2.39pm BST | 2.39pm BST |
| 14:39 | 14:39 |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| Some figures from the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals trust. | Some figures from the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals trust. |
| Of the 125 junior doctors who were expected in today, 46 worked. The figure was more like 50% last strike. | Of the 125 junior doctors who were expected in today, 46 worked. The figure was more like 50% last strike. |
| The BMA calculates that today and tomorrow about 100 surgical appointments and some 700 outpatient/follow-up appointments will have been lost. That’s not to say they were cancelled at the last moment – they were simply not planned in when they would have been normally. | The BMA calculates that today and tomorrow about 100 surgical appointments and some 700 outpatient/follow-up appointments will have been lost. That’s not to say they were cancelled at the last moment – they were simply not planned in when they would have been normally. |
| Basil Fozard, medical director at the trust, said safety of patients had not been compromised. “The key element is that there is solidarity among the consultants and other grades who are supportive of the junior doctors.” He said that A&E, the acute medical unit and most theatres were working normally. | Basil Fozard, medical director at the trust, said safety of patients had not been compromised. “The key element is that there is solidarity among the consultants and other grades who are supportive of the junior doctors.” He said that A&E, the acute medical unit and most theatres were working normally. |
| Fozard would not say if he supported the strike but two of his children have taken part in the dispute – and he said he had spoken to them today – which suggests relations are amicable and he may have sympathy. | Fozard would not say if he supported the strike but two of his children have taken part in the dispute – and he said he had spoken to them today – which suggests relations are amicable and he may have sympathy. |
| Basil Fozard, medical director at the Royal Bournemouth hospital. pic.twitter.com/6GqhpTBqzf | |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.11pm BST | |
| 2.35pm BST | 2.35pm BST |
| 14:35 | 14:35 |
| Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to David Cameron urging the government to return to the negotiating table with junior doctors’ leaders. | Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to David Cameron urging the government to return to the negotiating table with junior doctors’ leaders. |
| UK Govt needs to talk to junior doctors. Read @NicolaSturgeon’s letter to David Cameron https://t.co/oJLuaLG9aX pic.twitter.com/lztanidiAO | UK Govt needs to talk to junior doctors. Read @NicolaSturgeon’s letter to David Cameron https://t.co/oJLuaLG9aX pic.twitter.com/lztanidiAO |
| 2.29pm BST | 2.29pm BST |
| 14:29 | 14:29 |
| Senior hospital doctors’ union the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) says there is “growing frustration” among senior clinicians at the government’s failure to act to defuse the dispute. | Senior hospital doctors’ union the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) says there is “growing frustration” among senior clinicians at the government’s failure to act to defuse the dispute. |
| Professor Ross Welch, president of the TUC-affiliated HCSA, said: | Professor Ross Welch, president of the TUC-affiliated HCSA, said: |
| Consultants and specialists will be stepping into the breach today to ensure that excellent patient care continues across our NHS for those most in need. | Consultants and specialists will be stepping into the breach today to ensure that excellent patient care continues across our NHS for those most in need. |
| Senior hospital doctors have for weeks been working with trusts to ensure that the most vital services, including cancer care, are provided. | Senior hospital doctors have for weeks been working with trusts to ensure that the most vital services, including cancer care, are provided. |
| However, they do so with a sense of growing frustration with a government that refuses to lift the threat of planned imposition of the new contract for doctors in training. | However, they do so with a sense of growing frustration with a government that refuses to lift the threat of planned imposition of the new contract for doctors in training. |
| The HCSA has always backed in principle the idea of seven-day services, but not at any cost. | The HCSA has always backed in principle the idea of seven-day services, but not at any cost. |
| There is no shortcut to a safe seven-day service, and widespread concerns over the impact of the current proposals on recruitment, retention and the health and wellbeing of the next generations of hospital consultants must not be ignored. | There is no shortcut to a safe seven-day service, and widespread concerns over the impact of the current proposals on recruitment, retention and the health and wellbeing of the next generations of hospital consultants must not be ignored. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.46pm BST | at 2.46pm BST |
| 2.22pm BST | 2.22pm BST |
| 14:22 | 14:22 |
| The weather has thinned the ranks of picketers at Lewisham hospital. | The weather has thinned the ranks of picketers at Lewisham hospital. |
| Heavy rain and hail forced lewisham's #JuniorDoctorsStrike picketers inside. These are who's left pic.twitter.com/WDSWap36lr | Heavy rain and hail forced lewisham's #JuniorDoctorsStrike picketers inside. These are who's left pic.twitter.com/WDSWap36lr |
| 2.01pm BST | 2.01pm BST |
| 14:01 | 14:01 |
| Aisha Gani at St Thomas’ hospital near Westminster. | Aisha Gani at St Thomas’ hospital near Westminster. |
| A member of the public has got pizzas for the doctors with "messages from around the world" pic.twitter.com/uuWVTfwvSB | A member of the public has got pizzas for the doctors with "messages from around the world" pic.twitter.com/uuWVTfwvSB |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.02pm BST | at 2.02pm BST |
| 1.42pm BST | 1.42pm BST |
| 13:42 | 13:42 |
| A junior doctor tells Frances Perraudin she feels completely undermined. | A junior doctor tells Frances Perraudin she feels completely undermined. |
| Nada Khan, a junior doc striking in L'pool, says she changed careers aged 30 to be a doc and is feeling demoralised. pic.twitter.com/YMVOYtjrvK | Nada Khan, a junior doc striking in L'pool, says she changed careers aged 30 to be a doc and is feeling demoralised. pic.twitter.com/YMVOYtjrvK |
| 1.30pm BST | 1.30pm BST |
| 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Members of the Communications Workers Union have shown up in support of striking junior doctors at Bournemouth Royal hospital. | Members of the Communications Workers Union have shown up in support of striking junior doctors at Bournemouth Royal hospital. |
| It's got busy at the Bournemouth Royal. CWU union is in town for conference and has popped over to show solidarity. pic.twitter.com/VcI00246Jj | It's got busy at the Bournemouth Royal. CWU union is in town for conference and has popped over to show solidarity. pic.twitter.com/VcI00246Jj |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.43pm BST | at 2.43pm BST |
| 1.26pm BST | 1.26pm BST |
| 13:26 | 13:26 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Junior doctors from King’s College hospital, south London, plan to depart from their pickets in an open-top bus this afternoon to tour nearby communities, speaking with local people and trying to get their message across. | Junior doctors from King’s College hospital, south London, plan to depart from their pickets in an open-top bus this afternoon to tour nearby communities, speaking with local people and trying to get their message across. |
| They will pick up teachers and nurses before heading on to join colleagues at St Thomas’. A big march is due to depart at 5pm from the pickets at the riverside hospital over into Westminster and on to the Department of Health. | They will pick up teachers and nurses before heading on to join colleagues at St Thomas’. A big march is due to depart at 5pm from the pickets at the riverside hospital over into Westminster and on to the Department of Health. |
| The doctors said: | The doctors said: |
| We’ve got a vintage open-top bus and the plan is to mobilise doctors into our local community, who have been very supportive, to get our side of the story across. This idea that it’s about Saturday pay is not the case. We are trying to push through that spin and get the arguments out. We’ve got loads of leaflets and banners and we’ll make it a bit more visual. | We’ve got a vintage open-top bus and the plan is to mobilise doctors into our local community, who have been very supportive, to get our side of the story across. This idea that it’s about Saturday pay is not the case. We are trying to push through that spin and get the arguments out. We’ve got loads of leaflets and banners and we’ll make it a bit more visual. |
| The NUT (teachers union) are going to get on board, some of the nurses are going to come, and then we are going to end up at St Thomas’ for 5pm, for the big march. | The NUT (teachers union) are going to get on board, some of the nurses are going to come, and then we are going to end up at St Thomas’ for 5pm, for the big march. |
| #juniordoctors and teachers planning big march tonight from St Thomas' Hospital to support #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/M9k5Av7g8I | #juniordoctors and teachers planning big march tonight from St Thomas' Hospital to support #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/M9k5Av7g8I |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.43pm BST | at 2.43pm BST |
| 1.22pm BST | 1.22pm BST |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| At South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust 40 trainees have attended work duties today out of a total of 246* (approximately one in six of the junior doctor workforce), according to Tony Rao, consultant psychiatrist at the trust and chair of the BMA’s local negotiating committee. | At South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust 40 trainees have attended work duties today out of a total of 246* (approximately one in six of the junior doctor workforce), according to Tony Rao, consultant psychiatrist at the trust and chair of the BMA’s local negotiating committee. |
| He said: | He said: |
| Having over 80% of junior doctors taking part in industrial action is a sad reflection of the strength of feeling about imposition of the junior contract. | Having over 80% of junior doctors taking part in industrial action is a sad reflection of the strength of feeling about imposition of the junior contract. |
| *this figure was amended as the initial figure was incorrect. | *this figure was amended as the initial figure was incorrect. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.28pm BST | at 1.28pm BST |
| 1.14pm BST | 1.14pm BST |
| 13:14 | 13:14 |
| I was wondering if we would see any Prince tributes... | I was wondering if we would see any Prince tributes... |
| Great signs #RIPPrince #juniorscontract #timetotalkjeremy @TheBMA @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/5bYLvS41ZU pic.twitter.com/EHO1r21Q71 | Great signs #RIPPrince #juniorscontract #timetotalkjeremy @TheBMA @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/5bYLvS41ZU pic.twitter.com/EHO1r21Q71 |
| 1.09pm BST | 1.09pm BST |
| 13:09 | 13:09 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Tom Gilberthorpe, a senior trainee psychiatrist at the Maudsley, says he is worried that the imposition of the new contract will particularly affect doctors working in mental health. | Tom Gilberthorpe, a senior trainee psychiatrist at the Maudsley, says he is worried that the imposition of the new contract will particularly affect doctors working in mental health. |
| Tom Gilberthorpe, a senior psychiatrist at the Maudsley, with a message for the government #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/96HSwBnhF0 | Tom Gilberthorpe, a senior psychiatrist at the Maudsley, with a message for the government #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/96HSwBnhF0 |
| For me, as a psychiatric trainee, we are on call and out-of-hours work takes place from home – we are called into hospital. But obviously we are on call for periods of 24 hours often and we can be called at any time throughout that period. Given that we are not based in the hospital, the government sees an opportunity in the new contract to target our pay. | For me, as a psychiatric trainee, we are on call and out-of-hours work takes place from home – we are called into hospital. But obviously we are on call for periods of 24 hours often and we can be called at any time throughout that period. Given that we are not based in the hospital, the government sees an opportunity in the new contract to target our pay. |
| The other major impact on psychiatrists in some respects is that there are many who opt to do less than full-time training. That means I work 80% – I have a day at home to look after my daughter. The new contract will disproportionately affect those trainees that are on less than full-time contracts, and the majority of those are women who take time off for maternity. | The other major impact on psychiatrists in some respects is that there are many who opt to do less than full-time training. That means I work 80% – I have a day at home to look after my daughter. The new contract will disproportionately affect those trainees that are on less than full-time contracts, and the majority of those are women who take time off for maternity. |
| One of the overriding issues that’s led to an impasse is the unsociable hours pay, which for people who have family is something we want to protect. We want to protect our weekends and be fairly remunerated for the time we work unsociable hours. | One of the overriding issues that’s led to an impasse is the unsociable hours pay, which for people who have family is something we want to protect. We want to protect our weekends and be fairly remunerated for the time we work unsociable hours. |
| Jeremy Hunt seems to have focused a lot of his spin on the notion that the BMA and junior doctors are striking purely because of a small point about the Saturday and neglects to address the issue of whether or not the proposed contract and seven-day NHS services are indeed safe and sustainable. He’s made his conclusions in the absence of modelling or piloting the contract, or any robust evidence to suggest that seven-day services, as he proposes, will have any impact on mortality or patient outcomes. | Jeremy Hunt seems to have focused a lot of his spin on the notion that the BMA and junior doctors are striking purely because of a small point about the Saturday and neglects to address the issue of whether or not the proposed contract and seven-day NHS services are indeed safe and sustainable. He’s made his conclusions in the absence of modelling or piloting the contract, or any robust evidence to suggest that seven-day services, as he proposes, will have any impact on mortality or patient outcomes. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.18pm BST | at 1.18pm BST |
| 1.05pm BST | 1.05pm BST |
| 13:05 | 13:05 |
| Pun of the day and a cute animal picture to boot. | Pun of the day and a cute animal picture to boot. |
| This #NHS #JuniorContract is a-PAW-ling #NotSafeNotFair @georgesjuniors @TheBMA #TimeToTalkJeremy pic.twitter.com/MeIzuBHvLG | This #NHS #JuniorContract is a-PAW-ling #NotSafeNotFair @georgesjuniors @TheBMA #TimeToTalkJeremy pic.twitter.com/MeIzuBHvLG |
| 12.51pm BST | 12.51pm BST |
| 12:51 | 12:51 |
| Aisha Gani | Aisha Gani |
| Brad came out of St Thomas’ hospital, in central London, and asked the doctors for a badge to show his support for them. “Can I have one for my baby as well?” he asked. | Brad came out of St Thomas’ hospital, in central London, and asked the doctors for a badge to show his support for them. “Can I have one for my baby as well?” he asked. |
| Spoke to Brad an American whose wife is in hospital and expecting a baby in two days, and picked up a badge for baby pic.twitter.com/0LMIydX4bz | Spoke to Brad an American whose wife is in hospital and expecting a baby in two days, and picked up a badge for baby pic.twitter.com/0LMIydX4bz |
| Originally from the United States, where he says it costs upwards of $20,000 (around £14,000) to have a baby, he said: | Originally from the United States, where he says it costs upwards of $20,000 (around £14,000) to have a baby, he said: |
| I am proud to be supporting the junior doctors. I am becoming a father, my baby is due tomorrow and my wife is inside [the hospital]. | I am proud to be supporting the junior doctors. I am becoming a father, my baby is due tomorrow and my wife is inside [the hospital]. |
| I just think you’re talking about one of the most vital services in the country and I don’t think people become doctors for money or greed. The hours they work already, politicians wouldn’t want to do themselves. They [doctors] have gone through years and years of schooling and everyone in society deserves respect and if you don’t give good conditions and working conditions it undermines the service they do. | I just think you’re talking about one of the most vital services in the country and I don’t think people become doctors for money or greed. The hours they work already, politicians wouldn’t want to do themselves. They [doctors] have gone through years and years of schooling and everyone in society deserves respect and if you don’t give good conditions and working conditions it undermines the service they do. |
| He said he wanted his baby to have consistency of care growing up and a safe and secure place for the baby to be treated. | He said he wanted his baby to have consistency of care growing up and a safe and secure place for the baby to be treated. |
| Another man came out of the hospital and approached doctors. He took a sticker and said: | Another man came out of the hospital and approached doctors. He took a sticker and said: |
| I’d like to register my support. I had a heart attack five days ago. You saved my life. It’s not about the money it’s what they do. And you should chuck Jeremy Hunt in the fucking river.” | I’d like to register my support. I had a heart attack five days ago. You saved my life. It’s not about the money it’s what they do. And you should chuck Jeremy Hunt in the fucking river.” |
| He shook their hands and crossed the road. Taxis continue to beep their support, but one jogger shouted “shame on you”. | He shook their hands and crossed the road. Taxis continue to beep their support, but one jogger shouted “shame on you”. |
| A consultant came out and handed his colleagues cups of tea and said he was supporting them. | A consultant came out and handed his colleagues cups of tea and said he was supporting them. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.15pm BST | at 1.15pm BST |