JUNIOR doctors took to Barrow town centre as part of their 24-hour strike.

The doctors from Furness General Hospital walked out from 8am today in protest against new government proposals.

A small group of them gathered at the corner of Dalton Road and Portland Walk to hand out leaflets and talk to the public.

Dr Thomas Bailey was one of the junior doctors on strike.

He said: "The government are proposing that safeguards are removed  which prevent doctors from working excessive hours so if this contract goes ahead, doctors will be expected to work even longer hours with less staff.

"Under these proposals Saturday would be classed as a normal working day. At the moment it's classed as working unsociable hours so we don't get put down to work many of them and if we do we get paid extra.

"They are wanting to stretch the current workforce which I think is unsafe."


Jacqui Armstrong. One woman who approached the group to show her support was Jacqui Armstrong from Barrow.

She said: "I support the strike because the NHS is promoting healthcare and looking after patients but when it comes to the staff and the junior doctors it contradicts that because they are working such long hours and it goes against their health and their mental wellbeing.

"This affects the safety of the people who they are meant to be treating."

Are the junior doctors right to strike?
Yes
No

READ MORE:   Patients told to attend Barrow hospital as normal despite today's strike