A PICKET line was staged outside Warrington Hospital today after a walk-out over proposals to impose a new ‘unsafe’ contract on junior doctors.

Contract negotiations between junior doctors and health secretary Jeremy Hunt have reached a stalemate in recent months, leading to a nationwide strike.

Doctors are concerned over the removal of safeguards that would prevent them being overworked, as well as worries over pay.

Warrington Guardian:

British Medical Association secretary for Merseyside John Mullany said the new contract would not be good for doctors, patients or the NHS.

Speaking from the picket line on Lovely Lane, he said: “It’s a contract which is unsafe and removes contractual safeguards that stop hospitals overworking junior doctors by imposing financial penalties.

“These safeguards stop junior doctors from being overworked which is a direct impact on patients – a patient doesn’t want to be treated by a doctor who has just finished a 100 hour shift.

“That’s how mistakes happen and as junior doctors we don’t want any patient to come to harm and this new contract will increase the likelihood of patient harm.

“It’s not good for the NHS, it’s not good for patients and it’s not good for junior doctors.

“This is a last resort – junior doctors and the BMA did not want this to happen however the government has left us no alternative.”

Warrington Guardian:

The hospital said that patient disruption would be kept to an ‘absolute minimum’, with juniors providing emergency cover and senior clinicians covering shifts.

Around 40 appointments were cancelled as a result of the strikes.

Professor Simon Constable, medical director at the hospital, said: "No operations were cancelled at Warrington Hospital today as a result of the junior doctor's strike.

"We rearranged around 40 non-urgent outpatient appointments in advance of today and these patients are being rescheduled to be seen as soon as possible.

"Urgent and emergency work remained unaffected."

John added: “No patients will come to any harm as a result of today’s industrial action.

“We’ve not had one negative comment, everyone’s been in support of us and people have been driving past honking their horns.

“We’re very happy with the turnout and we just hope the public sees through the government’s spin – we’re defending their NHS.”

Warrington Guardian:

Anaesthetist Liz Jones said that the government were ‘dismantling the NHS bit by bit’.

She said: “At the moment I get paid a basic rate and a supplement for what are considered anti-social hours.

“By changing what the government considers social hours they then pay us less – they want to consider until 10pm is a social time to be in work.

“We are already working weekends and doing night shifts.

“We’re already flat out and working as hard as we can – the idea that we’re not is just insulting.

“Bit by bit they’re dismantling the NHS which we all love – it’s a fantastic place to work and it’s fantastic to know people don’t have to worry about how to pay for it if they’re unwell.

“The government are just not budging.”

Further junior doctor strikes are planned for January 26 and February 10.

Warrington Guardian:

Junior doctor Joanne Ashton added: “Doctors are overworked and having to work crazy shift patterns.

“In the past I’ve had to do seven 12-and-a-half hour night shifts in a row and by the end of that you are slower to make decisions because you’re just exhausted.

“The government want to take away the safeguards that protect us against that – we have no assurances that we won’t be overworked and working more unsocial hours for less pay.”

Warrington Guardian:

Nick Bent said the the public should blame Jeremy Hunt and the Prime Minister for the strikes.

The Labour spokesperson for Warrington South said: "Any patient who has had their operation cancelled or appointment postponed this week should be clear - don't blame our junior doctors, blame Jeremy Hunt and David Cameron.