Junior doctors strike for third time over new contracts

Walkout: Striking junior doctors gather outside Homerton Hospital. Photograph: Coral Jones

Junior doctors began their third strike today in an ongoing contract row with the Government.

The 48-hour walkout started at 8am this morning and is the longest one so far. However medics are once again providing emergency cover in hospitals.

It comes after the Government announced last month they would impose a controversial new junior doctors’ contract.

Dr Coral Jones, a GP at London Fields Medical Centre, joined junior doctors this morning on the picket line.

Dr Jones told the Hackney Citizen: “GPs support the junior doctors because damage that the junior doctors’ contract will do to patient care in hospital will also affect patients in general practice.

“Jeremy Hunt keeps talking about improving care in community so that we won’t need so many hospital services. But the government has also shrunk social care.

It is estimated more than 5,000 operations and procedures across England have been cancelled.

Junior doctors, patient groups, NHS campaigners and other supporters from across East London are expected to march on Thursday 10 March from The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel to St Paul’s Cathedral.