A Sidcup junior doctor is disappointed over the political treatment of young medics and their futures following full scale industrial action.
Osman Khalid, 28, of Pembury Crescent, was one of many health care professionals who took part in the UK’s first ever full walkout by junior doctors last week (April 26 and 27).
Osman Khalid, 28, of Pembury Crescent
The extraordinary action, which saw the removal of all emergency care, was in reaction to a controversial government contract that would stretch NHS care too thinly, the British Medical Association union claims.
Dr Khalid said: “I am disappointed we have had to get to this position - it’s a sad day in the history of the NHS.
“Stretching a crumbling service across seven days is not acceptable.
“Many people at the picket lines didn’t understand that doctors will be taken out of service during the week to fill the weekend shifts.
“Teams will be broken up and juniors won’t be able to see their team leaders.”
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is adamant that by changing a Saturday day shift to a normal rate in return for a 13.5 per cent hike in basic pay is the way forward for a sustainable 24/7 NHS, but Dr Khalid and tens of thousands of junior doctors disagree.
According to NHS England, 78 per cent of all junior doctors didn’t go into work because of the industrial action
Under the new contract, part time posts, which are largely held by women, will no longer receive an incremental pay increase like full time colleagues and this, combined with a rise in child care costs to cover weekends, has led to public outcry over the gender bias that is likely to manifest if the contract is implemented.
According to NHS England, 78 per cent of all junior doctors didn’t go into work because of the industrial action.
Speaking about the politics of junior doctors Dr Khalid said: “I would prefer my profession not to be political.
“I appreciate it comes as part of the package but I never thought it would get to this point.
“It is insulting for Jeremy Hunt to suggest I do not understand the contract.
“He is not doing his job properly - someone else needs to take over the role and listen to us."
Dr Khalid told News Shopper that the union is going to reassess the situation warning that indefinite strike action has not been ruled out.
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