My wife has worked in the NHS for over 30 years as a nurse and then midwife, so we know the situation and sympathise with the junior doctors, but (and this is just to move the discussion on, so please don't flame me.
) Is it right that hospitals should close down over the weekend? I'm exaggerating of course, but if you go to our local hospital, Addenbrooks in Cambridge (normally 5,000 + staff working) the car parks are empty as there are no clinics, opps, etc. with many patients waiting for Monday.
I work in a garden centre and I have had to accept working weekends, usually one on, one off, so that we can be open 7 days a week. Surely its just as important to keep hospitals working 7 days a week?
So how can this happen in a fair way, well imo the junior docs should accept a contract that means they are obliged to work when the employers requires their services, even if its during a weekend with I agree is unsociable, but its also important, imo that junior docs don't work any more hours than they are contracted for, so if the service is short staffed its ultimately up to the government to find more doctors. Doesn't that sound fair?
Thats my take on it anyway.
