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| Junior doctors strike: Hunt labels first all-out action a 'bleak day' for NHS - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.36am BST | |
| 09:36 | |
| We would like to hear from healthcare professionals about what they are doing on strike days. Junior doctors, how do you feel about an all-out strike? What are the consequences for patient care? We would also like to hear from others who are working on strike days – for example, consultants, nurses, healthcare assistants, GPs, porters and administration staff. How are you coping? How do you feel about junior doctors carrying out an all-out strike? | |
| Related: Healthcare staff, how do you feel about an all-out junior doctors' strike? | |
| 9.28am BST | |
| 09:28 | |
| This Guardian video explains the reasons behind the dispute: | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.28am BST | |
| 9.25am BST | |
| 09:25 | |
| The BMA has been keen to stress that in the absence of junior doctors, more senior colleagues (consultants) will be covering emergency care. | |
| This tweet shows consultants stepping in for their striking colleagues at St Mary’s hospital, in London. | |
| Good morning. Experienced consultants providing expert care to our emergency patients on #JuniorDoctorsStrike day pic.twitter.com/SVv63u0JYw | |
| 9.20am BST | |
| 09:20 | |
| Damien Gayle | |
| Benedict Porter, 26, F1 general medicine at Kings College hospital, in Camberwell, south London, said that although he and his colleagues are labelled “juniors” many of them in fact fill senior roles (junior doctors is a catch-all for all doctors below consultant) and can be running the hospital overnight. | |
| Fundamentally NHS services are already overstretched and we already provide emergency services seven days a week. What the government want to do is provide non-emergency services on the weekend like outpatient appointments and surgery for things that are not emergencies or life-threatening. | |
| They are also cutting out-of-hours pay so it means specialisms that require a lot of out of hours work are going to be penalised. People are not going to apply for those anymore. It’s going to have a really bad effect. | |
| Benedict Porter, 26, f1 General medicine, at Kings College explains why he's joined the #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/3o4L3TyvNj | |
| 9.16am BST | |
| 09:16 | |
| Denis Campbell | |
| On Monday, junior doctors were alerted via the online junior doctors contract forum that the Guardian wanted to hear from someone who was not striking today, so that they could explain their thinking - even anonymously - for crossing a picketline. | |
| Few people responded, which may indicate that participation in today’s walkout may be high. But one of those who did reply was Dr Amit Mukherjee, a trainee psychiatrist in London. He had this to say. | |
| I am not participating in the strike tomorrow as I have taken emergency leave to look after my ill father in India. | |
| Things are very different here. We as a family are using our savings to fund my dad’s chemotherapy. A while ago when dad was admitted, we had to pay for everything in hospital, including the price of gloves and syringes. My uncle in India died a few months ago and we had to pay for the ambulance to bring his body from hospital. | |
| In my humble view, only those who are ready to accept the above types of situation should carry on as usual during the junior doctors strike. The rest should support the junior doctors in order to save the NHS before it is destroyed. | |
| 9.14am BST | |
| 09:14 | |
| Aisha Gani | |
| Dennis Skinner the senior Labour MP, aka the Beast of Bolsover, has put in an appearance at St Thomas’ hospital. While a doctor attached a BMA badge on his jacket, he said: “I’m here today because I support them (the doctors).” | |
| He said doctors at helped when he had his heart and cancer operations: ”They were there for my hour of need and now here for them.” | |
| Dennis Skinner the Beast of Bolsover tells doctors and media why he's supporting the strike pic.twitter.com/aw3eCB7ORX | |
| 9.08am BST | |
| 09:08 | |
| Steven Morris | |
| Steven Morris at the Royal Bournemouth hospital says there is no sign yet of any patients turning against the junior doctors. | |
| Phillip Macdonald, 59, stopped his powered wheelchair outside the main entrance to voice his support for the strike and shake hands with the medics. | |
| “I want them to keep going until the government starts listening to them,” he said. “I don’t want doctors who are too tired to think to be caring for us. They deserve more than this government is giving them. Someone is going to die if they don’t start listening to the doctors. I’m completely behind them.” | |
| Josephine Bintcliffe, 60, was arriving for a pre-assessment ahead of an operation. “I don’t care how long I have to wait today. These doctors are in the right. Jeremy Hunt is completely wrong.” | |
| The hospital has put out a statement explaining how it will cope. It said: “The safety of our patients is our number one priority, so we will ensure our emergency services are covered at all times. However to achieve this more planned operations/procedures and outpatient appointments will have to be cancelled than before. This builds upon the number of cancellations from the four previous strikes.” | |
| Basil Fozard, medical director at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals trust, said: “We have to ensure that our patients in our emergency department and our inpatients receive high standards of care and that we maintain a safe service around the clock, so we are going to be redeploying staff from around the trust to ensure this. Unfortunately this will inevitably have a knock-on effect on appointments, and we apologise to all those affected.” | |
| Doctors strike. Bournemouth patient Josephine Bintcliffe on why she is backing the strike. https://t.co/WRdQgYIZo9 | |
| 9.01am BST | 9.01am BST |
| 09:01 | 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. | 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.” | 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. | 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 | 8.57am BST |
| 08:57 | 08:57 |
| Aisha Gani | 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. | 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. | 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.” | 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.” | 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 | 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 | 8.41am BST |
| 08:41 | 08:41 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Damien Gayle says junior doctors are still setting up their pickets outside Kings College hospital, London. | 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. | 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.” | 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 | #juniordoctors set up placards at kings college hospital #JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/jbAqiRe5nW |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.44am BST | at 8.44am BST |
| 8.37am BST | 8.37am BST |
| 08:37 | 08:37 |
| Frances Perraudin | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | “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.” | “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. | 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. | “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.” | “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.” | 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 | Updated |
| at 8.39am BST | 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: | 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 | 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 |