Lewisham junior doctors on strike took time from the picket lines to hold free workshops for the community.

As thousands of health staff took the streets after last ditch-talks failed, three paediatric junior doctors decided to give something back to local people.

All based at Lewisham Hospital, in the High Street, paediatric doctors Dr Shruti Patel, Dr Jessie Hill and Dr Rachael Mitchell ran a CPR course at a mother and baby group.

Giving the free workshop earlier today (February 10) at Besson Street Community Garden, around 25 people, including 15, children, benefitted from life-saving skills taught by the docs.

Dr Patel, 28, told News Shopper: “We were on strike at the picket lines in the morning and wanted to incorporate in our day something positive for people.

“Generally doctors are a quite skilled bunch of people so it seems right we’re doing something with these skills that’s positive for the community.

“It’s very frightening situation if a child starts choking, people feel helpless.

“So we did very basic things that can be done by all parents. They were really grateful, they were just really happy to have us there.”

MORE TOP STORIES The 24-hour walkout is over a bitter dispute with the government, in particular health secretary Jeremy Hunt, which saw the medical staff down tools in protest over a new proposed contract.

Ms Patel, who has been a junior doctor for four years, added: “We would hope the last strike being called off was a sign positive progress had been made within the negotiations, clearly that wasn’t the case.

“I do think picketing is one of the most important things we can do.

“People can come to the hospital to get information about why we’re striking, people have come in and said ‘what’s this about’ and we can talk directly to them.

“But it’s also important if we get the opportunity to do something else in the community to do that, and I imagine we will see more of that up and down the country.”

But she did not rule out further strike action, as no resolution seems in sight after the government blocked the latest deal put forward by the British Medical Association (BMA).

Dr Patel added: “The Lewisham community has been fantastic in the support we have received on the picket line when we took strike action.”