Junior doctors stage second walkout over contract changes

North East junior doctors will take to the picket line for the second time this morning in a continuing dispute over contract changes.

Last minute talks between the BMA and the government didn't manage to avert industrial action, which will begin from 8am this morning.

It's thought almost 3000 operations will be cancelled across the UK today, as only emergency care will be provided.

One of the key issues being debated is whether Saturdays should be considered 'normal working hours'.

A petition, calling for MPs to also work at the weekend, has gathered over 13,000 signatures.

It's a debate that appears to be ongoing, and for A&E doctor Hannah Price, it's about time a compromise was made.

She said: "I've worked before when I've been incredibly tired.

"I think the longest I've done in a week so far is about 75 hours.

"I can feel my levels of empathy going down and that to me, is when I worry about what kind of doctor I become.

"We all went into the job knowing the hours were long, no one is really complaining about that.

"What we are complaining about is being demoralised and made to look like we've got this '9-5 mentality' for a non-seven day NHS, which is absolutely untrue."

And junior doctors across our region have garnered the support of senior Teesside consultant Mr Fred Nath.

He's told TFM he thinks junior doctors are being 'abused'.

He said: "They have to work shifts, they're a long shifts, they're very tiring and it's difficult to make decisions when you're tired.

"One of my sons, who is a doctor, after two years was thinking of giving up.

"He couldn't see the point of what he was doing.

"This strike is not about money, it's about safety and the way the junior doctors are being treated in the NHS.

"At the moment, they're being picked on."

We'll be following the latest developments in this story throughout the day.