Nuclear option for junior doctors

Photo: Anthony Miller

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

The Government’s Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has announced that he could use the ‘nuclear option’ of imposing contracts on junior doctors if they don’t comply and continue with their industrial action.

On Tuesday, junior doctors went out on strike in England for the first time since 1975.

Momentum Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton (RHM) say they fully endorse and support the junior doctors' strike action against the "unfair and unsafe" contracts in a "bid to try and protect the NHS for the future".  

A spokesperson for Momentum RHM said: "The Tories are proposing to remove the safeguards protecting how many hours a doctor can work each week which means that hospitals will be able to ask their junior doctor to work more hours and cutting their bonuses for weekend work. This will potentially lead to tired over worked staff. A tired doctor is not good for patient safety.

"If the Government has its way, the NHS is going to be slowly dismantled through privatisation and healthcare will be for the privileged and those that can afford it. Most medics feel the Government's hidden agenda is to privatise the NHS. Last year 40% of NHS contracts went to private firms. Government ministers being shareholders in a good few of them.

"The BMA have tried to work with the Government, but they will not compromise on the issue of safety of patients and doctors.

"Momentum feel the profession is right to stand its ground and we will stand at the picket lines with the junior doctors to show our solidarity in their action.

"The next day of action is Tuesday 26 January - join us at Royal Oldham Hospital, 10.00am and show your support."