Junior doctors' strike: All-out protest enters second day in the West Midlands
Hundreds of junior doctors from hospitals in the West Midlands staged the first all-out strike in the history of the NHS yesterday, with the protest entering its second stage today.
The walk-out, which included withdrawing emergency cover, follows months' of dispute between Government and the British Medical Association (BMA).
It is over a new contract offered by the Government.
Picket lines for the strike were outside Sandwell General, Walsall Manor, New Cross and Russells Hall hospitals.
The strike, from 8am to 5pm, will also take place today.
Outside Sandwell General Hospital junior doctor Jenny Callaghan, aged 28, said: "It's yet another sad day that we have to resort to striking.
"Our workforce is already stretched enough as it is, but over the next year with this contract being imposed it will make it even more unsafe for patients, which the people making these decisions seem to forget that's what it's all about, patient safety."
Specialist trainee GP Vinesh Kollure, aged 26, said: "It's demoralising, it's the only word that can be used to describe the situation."
At New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, Helen Leach, 24, and Charles Elliott, 25, both first year foundation doctors a joined the protests outside the building.
Dr Leach insisted it is not just weekend working that is an issue on the new contract.
She said: "The contract discriminates against women. Many women reduce their hours to start a family. It will penalise people going into part time training and increase the gender pay gap."
"None of us want to be here today. We have been backed into a corner. Jeremy Hunt has multiple opportunities to stop this strike. "
Outside Walsall Manor Hospital, Alex Chaudhuri, 23, who is also a doctor, agreed saying: "None of us have taken this decision to strike lightly.
"We wouldn't strike if we didn't genuinely believe that no harm would come to a patient because our senior doctors and consultants are supporting us by taking time out of their busy schedule to provide emergency cover. This is an issue worth fighting for."
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt responded to the strikes. He said: "Regrettably, over the course of this pay dispute 150,000 sick and vulnerable people have seen their care disrupted, and the public will rightly question whether this is appropriate or proportionate action by professionals whose patients depend on them."
