Picture gallery: Junior doctors walk out of the Whittington and Royal Free for the first time in 40 years
Striking junior doctors outside the Whittington Hospital in Archway on 12.01.15. - Credit: Archant
Protestors gathered outside The Whittington and The Royal Free hospitals today as junior doctors walked out over a contract dispute.
Junior doctors were today joined by patients and members of the public as they demonstrated against government plans to impose contract changes.
The strikes were called by the British Medical Association after negotiations with the Department of Health broke down.
On-call junior doctors performing emergency care have continued to work.
The Whittington Hospital currently has a total of 249 junior doctors in employment but cannot confirm how many have walked out. A spokesman for the Whittington said emergency services are running well and added: “Safety remains our priority and our teams across the hospital and community have been working hard to minimise disruption and cancellations for patients.”
You may also want to watch:
The Royal Free Hospital released a statement saying: “We have put plans in place to enable us to deliver safe services for patients during the strike action and we would like to apologise for an inconvenience this may cause.”
Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, described the strikes as “very disappointing and unnecessary”.
Most Read
- 1 'Time for banks to share a Crouch End branch'
- 2 Piers Plowright obituary: BBC and Hampstead star dies at 83
- 3 Motorcyclist in 'life-threatening' condition after collision with a car in Maida Vale
- 4 Man charged with indecent exposure and voyeurism in West Hampstead
- 5 E-scooters set for Camden as council boss backs rental trial
- 6 'Safe and secure home' - Camden takes landlord to court over eviction threat
- 7 Car driver arrested after crash with van in Camden Town
- 8 London Zoo's aviary unwrapped to create new monkey home
- 9 Arsenal start pre-season with win over Chelsea but dealt blow with Jordan Nobbs injury
- 10 Discovering 'rich' poetry of Hampstead Heath on guided tours
He said: “I would like to thank the NHS staff who have worked really hard today to keep patients safe in very challenging circumstances, including the junior doctors who have gone into work.”
To keep up-to-date with strike action and to read interviews with junior doctors, pick up a copy of the Ham&High on Thursday.
