Junior doctors walk out

Photo: Anthony Miller

Picket line - junior doctors and supporters outside the Royal Oldham Hospital

Junior doctors staged a 24-hour strike at the Royal Oldham Hospital yesterday (Tuesday 12 January) in protest over “unsafe and unfair” proposed changes to their contracts.

Talks to avert the industrial action failed and junior doctors launched the first of three days of action at 8am yesterday.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said although operations, procedures and appointments were cancelled or postponed, emergency care, including A&E and emergency surgery, was fully staffed and unaffected. The trust’s cancer services, maternity services and labour wards also remained unaffected.

Twenty four patients had non-urgent operations rearranged.

Junior doctors have raised concerns about contractual safeguards on safe working and proper recognition for those working unsocial hours, as well as changes to the pay structure.