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A&Es across England quiet as striking junior doctors picket hospitals A&Es across England quiet as striking junior doctors picket hospitals
(4 months later)
A&E units have been quieter than usual as junior doctors staging their first ever all-out strike picket hospitals in an escalation of their ongoing battle with Jeremy Hunt over a proposed new contract.A&E units have been quieter than usual as junior doctors staging their first ever all-out strike picket hospitals in an escalation of their ongoing battle with Jeremy Hunt over a proposed new contract.
Initial evidence suggested that a majority of doctors in training across England had joined the action on Tuesday, defying the health secretary’s appeals to go in to work in case patients were harmed.Initial evidence suggested that a majority of doctors in training across England had joined the action on Tuesday, defying the health secretary’s appeals to go in to work in case patients were harmed.
Many members of the public seemed to heed NHS advice to stay away from emergency departments unless in urgent need. Services looked to be running smoothly, with no hospitals reporting incidents or undue pressures.Many members of the public seemed to heed NHS advice to stay away from emergency departments unless in urgent need. Services looked to be running smoothly, with no hospitals reporting incidents or undue pressures.
At the Royal Stoke hospital just 67 people had sought care from its A&E department by 9.30am, far fewer than normal and a big drop on the 101 who did so in the same time period last Tuesday.At the Royal Stoke hospital just 67 people had sought care from its A&E department by 9.30am, far fewer than normal and a big drop on the 101 who did so in the same time period last Tuesday.
Related: Junior doctors strike: Cameron says withdrawal of emergency care 'not right' - live
It was due to be staffed on Tuesday by three consultants and 12 junior doctors. In the morning, however, seven consultants were dealing with arrivals to make up for missing junior colleagues. While two speciality registrars – more experienced junior doctors – had turned up, none of the 10 other juniors had done so.It was due to be staffed on Tuesday by three consultants and 12 junior doctors. In the morning, however, seven consultants were dealing with arrivals to make up for missing junior colleagues. While two speciality registrars – more experienced junior doctors – had turned up, none of the 10 other juniors had done so.
At the Manchester Royal Infirmary, A&E staff said the unit had rarely been so quiet. Waiting times were down from several hours to a maximum of one hour, with anyone needing urgent care guaranteed immediate help. There were just two patients in its waiting room at 10am.At the Manchester Royal Infirmary, A&E staff said the unit had rarely been so quiet. Waiting times were down from several hours to a maximum of one hour, with anyone needing urgent care guaranteed immediate help. There were just two patients in its waiting room at 10am.
Outside, one paramedic said it would be a good day to get ill in Manchester, because the emergency department is staffed entirely by consultants. “It’s always like this on strike days: for once, they’re over-staffed rather than under-staffed, and with the best qualified doctors in the hospital,” said the ambulance worker.Outside, one paramedic said it would be a good day to get ill in Manchester, because the emergency department is staffed entirely by consultants. “It’s always like this on strike days: for once, they’re over-staffed rather than under-staffed, and with the best qualified doctors in the hospital,” said the ambulance worker.
Around 50 doctors at the MRI waved placards in what medics said was their biggest picket yet. All said they knew of no junior doctors who had crossed the picket line.Around 50 doctors at the MRI waved placards in what medics said was their biggest picket yet. All said they knew of no junior doctors who had crossed the picket line.
NHS England will release official figures later for the proportion of junior doctors who did turn up for work on Tuesday, though these will be carefully scrutinised to ensure their accuracy.NHS England will release official figures later for the proportion of junior doctors who did turn up for work on Tuesday, though these will be carefully scrutinised to ensure their accuracy.
Related: Is the junior doctors’ strike justified? | The panel
A consultant at a south London university hospital, who did not want to be named, said: “In obstetrics and gynaecology, eight registrars should be here and we have three today. There should be six senior house officers and we have three. We should have two foundation year 1 doctors who haven’t turned up. As a result we have seven consultants acting as the juniors and covering emergency work.”A consultant at a south London university hospital, who did not want to be named, said: “In obstetrics and gynaecology, eight registrars should be here and we have three today. There should be six senior house officers and we have three. We should have two foundation year 1 doctors who haven’t turned up. As a result we have seven consultants acting as the juniors and covering emergency work.”
Dr Simran Singh, a British Medical Association representative at Newham General hospital in east London, said that only two of more than 100 junior doctors – all medics below the level of consultant – had gone in to work on Tuesday.Dr Simran Singh, a British Medical Association representative at Newham General hospital in east London, said that only two of more than 100 junior doctors – all medics below the level of consultant – had gone in to work on Tuesday.
“Consultants are covering for all the junior doctors so that the hospital runs smoothly,” he said. “Consultants and our bosses have supported us invariably and told us not to worry, and to continue our actions, and they will cover for us.”“Consultants are covering for all the junior doctors so that the hospital runs smoothly,” he said. “Consultants and our bosses have supported us invariably and told us not to worry, and to continue our actions, and they will cover for us.”
But one doctor who had decided to work during the strike told the Guardian that many junior doctors had wrongly rejected the new contract Hunt is imposing on them because they did not realise that it was in some ways beneficial to them.But one doctor who had decided to work during the strike told the Guardian that many junior doctors had wrongly rejected the new contract Hunt is imposing on them because they did not realise that it was in some ways beneficial to them.
“I’m concerned that some of my colleagues joining the strike are doing so without having studied the proposed terms in detail. It’s extremely worrying how many junior doctors I’ve spoken to are either wrong or misinformed about basic aspects of a contract they purport to oppose. I’m also worried how much further will this go? I cannot countenance an indefinite walkout,” said Dr Ben Norris, a junior doctor in general medicine in the south of England.“I’m concerned that some of my colleagues joining the strike are doing so without having studied the proposed terms in detail. It’s extremely worrying how many junior doctors I’ve spoken to are either wrong or misinformed about basic aspects of a contract they purport to oppose. I’m also worried how much further will this go? I cannot countenance an indefinite walkout,” said Dr Ben Norris, a junior doctor in general medicine in the south of England.
“I don’t believe the contract in its current form is as destructive as some of my colleagues think – on the contrary, there are many positive aspects. I would be prepared to accept it. However, as the BMA needs to save some face, I hope they will drop their blanket refusal to discuss rates of Saturday pay. This was the sole reason the last round of otherwise productive negotiations broke down,” he added.“I don’t believe the contract in its current form is as destructive as some of my colleagues think – on the contrary, there are many positive aspects. I would be prepared to accept it. However, as the BMA needs to save some face, I hope they will drop their blanket refusal to discuss rates of Saturday pay. This was the sole reason the last round of otherwise productive negotiations broke down,” he added.
Further strikes, an option the BMA is considering, “would be futile, damaging and dangerous”, he said.Further strikes, an option the BMA is considering, “would be futile, damaging and dangerous”, he said.