JUNIOR doctors have begun three days of industrial action, with many picketing outside of Warrington Hospital.

The doctors on strike are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and are concerned chiefly about working conditions.

Those on strike today told the Warrington Guardian that if working conditions are addressed then this will allow the NHS to fix the problem of poor staff retention rates.

Warrington Guardian: The three-day walkout began today, March 13The three-day walkout began today, March 13 (Image: Newsquest)

Members of the union range from student doctors to those who have worked in the NHS for more than 10 years.

One junior doctor, Ciara Kiely, has worked in the NHS for seven years, but is now in her second year of training in the gynaecology department at Warrington Hospital.

Ciara told the Warrington Guardian that she can't blame people for leaving the NHS because of the conditions, and because other jobs pay better.

She chiefly is concerned that poor working conditions are unsafe for NHS staff, and are therefore unsafe for patients.

Ciara added that lots of people assume NHS workers who go on strike are leaving hospitals in the lurch, but she insisted 'The BMA gave the hospital warning in advance,' and that those on strike knew that the hospital would be fully staffed during the industrial action.

One of the placards that a striking member of staff held read: "[I] could earn more at Pret than I do delivering babies."

Another sign, issued by the BMA, read: "£14 per hour is not a fair wage for a junior doctor.

"Full pay restoration now."

A third placard seen on the picket line said: "£8,000 on med school, and all I can afford is this lousy sign."

Warrington Guardian: The strikers are picketing outside Warrington HospitalThe strikers are picketing outside Warrington Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

The BMA's website announced an update on the negotiations with the Government: "Last week during a meeting with junior doctors, the health secretary Steve Barclay admitted he did not have any mandate from the Prime Minister to start negotiations, and [the] meeting also failed to demonstrate that any level of credible negotiations were on the table. 

"Despite our door always being open, the Government has said it is unwilling to continue negotiations whilst strike action is progressing – meaning that no further negotiations are now expected until after the 72-hour walkout."

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