Junior doctors maintain public support

A majority of the public support junior doctors’ industrial action, a new survey has shown. An Ipsos MORI poll conducted for the BBC finds 57 per cent of people support the action, without juniors providing emergency cover. Twenty-six per cent oppose, while 13 per cent said they did not know. The percentage expressing strong support — 41 per cent — is the same as when people were polled in January and asked about action that included emergency cover. Anna Quigley, head of health research at Ipsos MORI, said: ‘We’re seeing today that support for the junior doctors is still prevalent among much of the public, even when emergency care is withheld.’ It is the first time in the history of the NHS that a full withdrawal of labour — in this case between the hours of 8am and 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday — has taken place. Cover will be provided by senior doctors and other healthcare staff during this period. The industrial action comes as health secretary Jeremy Hunt dismissed the BMA offer to call off the strikes if he would lift imposition.   Low point BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana said: ‘Today is an incredibly sad day for doctors, and the rest of society. 'These two days of industrial action mark one of the lowest points in the wonderful history of the NHS. ‘We deeply regret the disruption caused to patients, but we know experienced staff will be working hard to provide the emergency care they...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news