Greens join junior doctors on picket line

Ashford Green Party came out in support for the junior doctors’ demands during the nationwide 24-hour strike idarity with the junior doctors.

She said: “We believe the proposed new contract should be torn up. This is not about greed, this is about privatisation through the back door, by causing doctors to become dissatisfied with the Health Service, and this is about patient safety.”

Steve Campkin, fellow protester and Green Party member, added: “The government wants to extend the hours doctors work, but instead of increasing funding and employing more doctors to cover the hours, they are just going to make already overworked and tired doctors work longer. That puts lives at risk.

“When things start to go wrong due to concentration levels being compromised the NHS will be attacked and the answer will be privatisation.”

Formal talks to resolve the dispute over contracts between the British Medical Association (BMA) and ministers broke down in January. The BMA said industrial action is necessary because they have not managed to reach agreement with NHS bosses and the Department of Health on junior doctor contracts.

However, a number of protocols were put in place to ensure patient safety and an East Kent Hospitals Trust spokesman said continuity plans were in place at the William Harvey Hospital.

She added: “We f urther enhanced those processes across all of our hospitals to continue providing safe and effective services for patients who needed our care on strike action day.

“Where it has been necessary t o reschedule non- urgent appointments, patients were notified by telephone.

“We increased senior doctor presence on strike day to ensure delivery of safe emergency services for patients who required urgent or immediate care.”

Anyone requiring medical help or advice is encouraged to contact NHS Choices on 111 or visit www. healthhelpnow-nhs.net.

FM4212657 Steve Campkin, of Ashford Green Party, was among those on the picket line during Wednesday’s strike