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'Ludicrous': Striking junior doctors speak from West Midlands' picket lines

"We are dedicated to our job but we are overworked and underpaid."

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That was the feeling amongst junior doctors on the picket line outside hospitals across the Black Country and Staffordshire during a second national strike in the space of a month.

Groups gathered with placards, banners and posters for the 24-hour walkout yesterday as part of the ongoing dispute over new contracts.

Junior doctor's protest outside Russells Hall Hospital

Ouside Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital was registrar Hafiz Aladin. The 32-year-old was on call on Tuesday night but felt it was important to join his co-workers on the picket line.

He said: "The change of contract is ludicrous and it's almost a fallacy to think the NHS can survive if this is implemented.

"We have been overwhelmed with the public support we've received. It's so important we as show how serious of an issue this is, not for us but for the future of the NHS and the care of patients.

"It's something we are very passionate about, I love working for the NHS but it is so important our concerns are heard."

The major sticking point in the dispute is over weekend pay and whether Saturday should be largely classed as a normal working day.

Junior doctors - all medics below consultant level - have accused secretary of state for health Jeremy Hunt of 'trying to kill the NHS' and feel they have been left with no choice but to strike.

First year foundation student Amandeep Kahla, aged 26, joined the group of doctors striking at Sandwell Hospital and described the proposed new junior doctor's contract as 'insulting'. She said: "It's insulting to nurses, doctors, cleaners, everybody who works in hospitals to be told we're what we are currently working is inefficient.

"We are dedicated to our job but we are overworked and underpaid, and the new contracts are a huge contradiction to what the NHS stands for.

"What about patient safety? That is meant to be paramount in all of this. These plans do not reflect that."

Fourth year specialist trainee Chris Walmsley, aged 32, said: "We are all disappointed we have had to come to this and go on strike, the government hasn't been willing to engage in meaningful discussion so we've been driven to this.

"We offer exactly the same kind of care, whether it be a Saturday night or a Tuesday afternoon. "This is not about pay, this is for junior doctors across the UK to be recognised for the work they do.

"The contract that Jeremy Hunt is looking to implement will be putting the safety of all patients at risk for the long term."

Around 300 appointments were called off at Sandwell Hospital and 182 at Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley.

Junior doctors taking strike action outside Walsall Manor hospital yesterday, spoke of their frustration at Jeremy Hunt

No procedures were cancelled at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Eight operations and 188 appointments were cancelled at New Cross Hospital as a result of the strike last month.

Junior doctors outside New Cross Hospital who went on strike over controversial changes to their contracts

There was no picket line outside County Hospital in Stafford.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has insisted doctors are getting a "fair deal" as he described the latest strike as "very damaging".

He said: "The job of health secretary is to do the right thing for patients and we have now had eight studies in the last five years that have shown that mortality rates at weekends are higher than they should be. And my job is to do something about that."

Jinesh Patel, a CT 3 doctor from Dudley, said: "We strongly disagree with the contract the government are trying to oppose upon us. We already provide a seven working day a week service. "I've become completely disillusioned under these new proposals and even question what we are working for.

"We're very passionate about the NHS. It's the best health care service in the world and want it to grow but we can't do it under this fallacy they are calling a contract - it will kill the NHS."

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