News / Bristol
Junior doctors to march in Bristol
Junior doctors are set to march in Bristol on Saturday over concerns about a new contract which could deliver an effective pay cut.
Severn Junior Doctors Pressure Group said about 1,500 people are expected on the protest which starts at 11am at Brandon Hill Park, proceeding down Park Street and ending in College Green.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has put forward plans for a new contract which would change in the definition of unsociable hours.
is needed now More than ever
Junior doctors’ standard working hours would increase from 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday, to 7am-10pm, Monday to Saturday. This will mean they lose out on additional pay as evenings and weekends would no longer been seen as overtime.
The new contract has been described as the “straw that breaks the camels back” for working conditions in the NHS. Up to 42 per cent of junior doctors say they will leave their job if the new contract in imposed.
The British Medical Association has said it intends to ballot for strike action.
Dr Alexander Carpenter, of Severn Junior Doctors Pressure Group said: “We consider this contract a serious threat to our NHS, our ability to deliver safe and compassionate care.
“Above all, we are passionate about doing the right thing for our patients, something we have all sworn an oath to uphold.”
Andrew Collier, the BMA’s junior doctor committee co-chair has released this statement on the BMA’s website: “We urge the Government not to impose a contract that is unsafe and unfair. We will resist a contract that is bad for patients, bad for juniors and bad for the NHS.”
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