Junior doctors today claimed huge public support for their refusal to accept “unsafe” changes to their contracts as they delivered a 50,000-signature petition to the Department of Health.
An 18-metre scroll signed by members of the public and 3,500 medics made clear their opposition to the new contracts being imposed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt from August.
The protest came after the British Medical Association yesterday announced three further strikes and a bid to have the imposition declared illegal by the courts.
Walkouts lasting 48 hours are due to start on March 9, April 6 and April 26, but emergency cover will be provided.
The petition signatures were gathered during “Meet the Doctors” events over the past three months, and a poll earlier this month showed that 66 per cent of people back the medics.
Antonio de Marvao, a junior doctor attending today’s protest, said the new contracts were “unacceptable and unsafe”.
The Department of Health branded the proposed strikes as “completely unnecessary” and said tens of thousands of patients faced cancelled operations.
