Mid Sussex junior doctors join picket lines

Doctors from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUH) walked out on strike from 8am on Tuesday to protest against the changes to junior doctors contracts – which the BMA is arguing will see the medics work longer hours for an unsociable wage.

The hospital trust said 22 daycase operations and 13 inpatient operations, were rescheduled as a result of the walk out, as well as 25 outpatient clinics.

A letter written to the Mid Sussex Times on behalf of more than 60 doctors employed by the trust said: “We are writing to tell you that we are undertaking industrial action out of absolute desperation.

“The government has repeatedly failed to participate in meaningful negotiation with our appointed representatives, the British Medical Association, and instead continues to threaten and misrepresent our position.

“We want a contract that is safe and fair.

“As it stands the threatened contract is neither; it removes vital safeguards that prevent us working dangerously excessive hours and it financially penalises the doctors who work late into the evening and weekends.”

The doctors said care of the trust’s patients remains their ‘foremost concern’.

The strike was declared last week, after talks between the NHS and the BMA collapsed. The new contract proposes an 11 per cent rise in basic pay for junior doctors.

However the number of hours during the week which are classed as ‘unsociable’ and therefore a better paid – are being cut.

Under the changes, unsociable hours would start at 10pm rather than 7pm from Monday to Friday and end at 7am.

Before any work over the weekend was paid at a higher rate, but the current plans would consider Saturday a normal working day until 7pm.

Dr Johan Malawana, BMA junior doctors committee chairman said the BMA ‘deeply regrets’ the level of disruption caused but argued the strike was a ‘fight’ for the long term safety of patients and junior doctors’ working lives.

A spokesman for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals said: “Maintaining the safety of our patients was our priority throughout the period of industrial action and the detailed, speciality-specific plans we had in place ensured disruption to services was kept to a minimum.

“Some planned surgery and outpatient appointments had to be rescheduled and all the patients involved were contacted in advance.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.