As junior doctors at Salford Royal Hospital staged their fourth walkout today, BMA rep, Kavita, warned of a future shortage of doctors in the NHS, due to the Tory Government's intransient stance on contracts and conditions.
"Fifty per cent of my colleagues aren't taking training posts next year" she said "The majority are going abroad to places like Australia, while others are taking time out to look at alternative careers. Not many people are going into training posts because they're scared about what's going to happen. I think that even in a year's time things are going to look quite bleak.
"People realise that this isn't about our pay, this is about the future of the NHS; that's what we're fighting for" she added "We don't want the Government to just bully us into a corner and try and shut us up. We're trying to send them a message, and we're incredibly grateful for the support from the public."
The Salford junior doctors are on strike for 48 hours, whilst providing emergency cover, and public support is stronger now than at the start of the dispute. A YouGov survey published today has found 59 per cent of people support industrial action, with 23 per cent opposed. And more than five times the number of people thought the Government, rather than the BMA, was most to blame for the dispute - 48 per cent versus 9 per cent. This was a higher proportion than in a previous poll in early February.
Meanwhile, BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana backed up Kavita's personal observation...
"By pursuing its current course, the Government risks alienating a generation of doctors" he explained "If it continues to ignore junior doctors' concerns, at a time when their morale is already at rock-bottom, doctors may vote with their feet, which will clearly affect the long-term future of the NHS and the care it provides.
"Responsibility for industrial action now lies entirely with the Government" he added "It must start listening and resume negotiations on a properly funded junior doctors' contract to protect the future of patient care and the NHS."
On the picket line outside Salford Royal this morning, BMA rep, Kavita, insisted that the junior doctors resolve is as strong as ever...
"Everyone here is willing to keep on fighting" she said "That's why we want to escalate the strikes, in the hope that the Government will take some notice and realise that all these doctors can't be wrong..."
The junior doctors action continues tomorrow with anyone welcome on the picket line at Salford Royal Hospital to show support.
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