Junior Doctors won?

After 8 days of strikes (and we were there) spread over the last five months, the government and the BMA have reached agreement over the Junior Doctors contracts and it's going to a vote soon.

I'd like to be triumphant because the tories have been forced into a compromise they didn't want to make; the power of a Union beat them down.

Which is  a lesson for everyone.

And while I'm glad I won't have to be on the picket line any more (I'm getting a bit too ill for that), I regret the deal.

While the Doctors have won concessions on pay and hours, the strike wasn't just about that. The door has been opened to unpaid anti social hours and weaker workers in the NHS are now going to face the same attack by this government.

Of all the Doctors we spoke to, the issues were always about the future of the NHS, professional standards and work life balance.

I'm urging a vote against the deal but however it goes, it shows that a strong union is a match for any tory government.

Remember that.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

The Junior Doctors Strike - what next?

In a weeks time the Junior Doctor's Committee of The British Medical Association meets to decide what their next action will be following the health minister's announcement that he will impose the new contract on Junior Doctors.

Already, Hunt's 'powerful' action looks a bit pathetic. It turns out that while he can make hospitals adopt his new contract he can't do that with 'foundation trusts' because they were given financial independence.

Come the new intake in August it's quite possible that the big, rich hospitals will be able to recruit an elite of the new recruits under the old terms while all the other hospitals scrabble around for the rest.

It's obvious to me that there isn't going to be any rush abroad by junior doctors - you need a specialism to be in demand.

So there is a risk this could just peter out and everybody just gives up. That would be the worst possible outcome for patients.

My hope is that the actions are extended - the worst result is a collapse in morale, an increase in cynicism.

Last year I was in Wexham Park hospital; this has been a failing hospital and it was taken over by Frimley Heath after the Care Quality Commission had condemned treatment there.

I was there for a week screaming in pain for hours on end with a broken spine. The doctors were at a loss as to what to do and in the end I was very lucky to get transferred to Charing Cross where the pain was controlled almost immediately and I was back home in 48 hours.

After I'd had my scan I was given a message by a junior doctor on the ward who told me that there was nothing they could do and I'd be going home without treatment.

He was honest enough to admit that he "Didn't know anything about spines" and that no one from orthopaedics was going to talk to me about it .

At that point I went on strike and refused to co-operate until someone came down from orthopaedics to explain my scan.

When I finally spoke to a junior doctor from orthopaedics I told him exactly what I thought about what had happened and he just said "there's nothing I can do about it, I'll be in a different hospital in six months time anyway".

The Junior Doctors have shown that they won't be pushed around. They now know how much solidarity there is from the public and from their fellow health professionals too. These were the most idealistic and most committed doctors.

One thing I do know is that the doctor I met at Wexham wouldn't have been on strike; there are plenty who have given up, who don't care.

That's what's so dangerous about what's happening to the NHS.

So my hope is that the dispute continues as a national challenge to the health secretary's proposed changes and that it draws in workers from throughout the health service from the nurses to the ancilliary workers.

Above all this is also a challenge to privatisation and cuts to the services that patients need.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

The Junior Doctors Strike 2016.

We didn't take the 'Hopper Bus' to St. Peter's Hospital because when I checked up I found that (bizarrely for a hospital shuttle bus) you aren't allowed to bring walking aids on board for 'health and safety reasons'.

No wonder it's always empty.

We did make our banner - as you can see I got Robyn to help out with the lettering. Mines the top row....oops;

 

And on Tuesday morning we didn't get up as early as we should have - it was freezing cold.

We parked in my secret place where it's free but then we had a long walk to the picket line.

We went to the entrance to the hospital;

Which is the traditional place although we heard that there was another line at the front door - the ancilliary staff weren't allowed on hospital grounds at all back in 2014.

There were quite a few doctors there - the numbers fluctuated through the morning.

I brought my whistle with me which Robyn is using here;

I reflected on all the picket lines I've stood on in my life - this was quite the politest I've been on and the strikers were bombarded with biscuits and cakes from passers by.

In a way it was also very sad - these were the most idealistic young doctors you could meet. They are trying to protect their 'work life balance' but they are also trying to preserve doctors professional standards and the NHS as well.

Ranged against them is most of the press, the private health industry, the whole of the tory party, the remaining bits of 'new labour' which was always hand in glove with private health care and a growing number of people who just don't understand how important the NHS is and how it challenges the way we view our society.

The tories really do want to destroy it in its current form.

As against that, the strikers got a very good response from drivers who were hooting their support all morning;

For me there was a special satisfaction in picketing St. Peter's and I suppose this may also be my last picket line too;

If there is no agreement the strike will be on again next week and we will try to be there, dependant on when chemo starts.

Meanwhile, it was bitterly cold. It took me all day to warm up and as we drove home I saw how high the river was at Staines.

In the evening we got the first flood warning of the year! 

Stay tuned.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com