Royal Bolton Hospital junior doctors go on strike over pay

Today was the first day in the latest action, which will take place until 7am Saturday.

Today Bolton doctors stood outside the hospital 

Dr Colm Doherty, a junior doctor of nine years at the Royal Bolton Hospital said: “We’re here because we have lost so much of our pay in the last 15 years by having pay freezes and inflation rises, that have now led to a really big crisis for us.

“So many doctors have left to go to other countries or professions and that’s why there is so few doctors working in the NHS now or why it is so hard to get a GP appointment.

“So, we’re here to get our pay back to what it was 15 years ago, hopefully more doctors will stay.”

The British Medical Association say junior doctor pay as fallen by 26 percent over the last 15 years and ask for 35 per cent pay rise which the government failed to agree with.

Strikes are taking place all over the country.

The strike is latest in a series by junior doctors and  is expected to cause disruption to appointments.

Royal Bolton Hospital said they would contact patients if they needed to reschedule appointments.

A spokesman said: “From 7am this morning junior doctors are taking strike action until 7am on Saturday 17 June.

“We'll be contacting patients to let you know if your appointment is being postponed. If you don't hear from us, please attend as normal.”

Dr Doherty said the role was no longer how he had imagined it and doing his job was harder to do with less pay.

There will be “a lot of disruption to regular care” caused by the junior doctors’ strikes, NHS England director Professor Stephen Powis has said.

He said: “Consultants mostly will be covering other staff to support. We’re keeping emergency services as normal, maternity services, trauma, but of course as you’ve also said there will be a lot of disruption to regular care.”