Junior doctors picket hospitals in latest walkout

Junior doctors formed a picket line outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton

Junior doctors have begun three days of strike action after walking out at 07:00 GMT on Wednesday.

The British Medical Association (BMA) says their pay has been eroded over the last few years leading to low morale and problems recruiting and retaining staff.

Picket lines have been formed outside several hospitals across south-east England.

Health secretary Victoria Atkins said she was willing to resume negotiations with the BMA if the strikes were called off.

Dr Lara McNeill, A&E doctor, on picket line in Brighton

Dr Lara McNeill, who had just finished a 10-hour night shift in A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, says strike action is the only way to make the government listen.

She said: "We are the ones who see patients upset everyday, not being treated properly, being cared for in corridors. We see that every day."

Dr Krupali Patel says colleagues are leaving the NHS over pay

Medical registrar Dr Krupali Patel who qualified more than a decade ago, says she has seen many colleagues depart.

She said: "Twenty percent of my year group have already left the NHS and if that continues to grow the NHS is not going to survive."

A patient arriving at the Royal Sussex for a scheduled cataract operation told BBC Radio Sussex he was not sure if his surgery would be going ahead.

“We’ve been waiting every day, just waiting for any message," he said.

"We haven’t had any, so we assume it’s going ahead.”

He said he was "in two minds" over the strike.

"I can understand why, but on the other hand, the inconvenience when it really affects us, it can change your opinion.”

Another patient, who had been told her operation would now be carried out by a consultant, was more supportive.

“I feel very strongly in favour of what the junior doctors are doing," she said.

"The health service has been dreadfully and deliberately undermined and they’re all on their knees.”

Junior doctors are planning another walkout in January

Talks between the BMA and the government broke down earlier this month, with another six-day stoppage scheduled for January 2024.

Health secretary Ms Atkins told the BBC the strikes would cause "significant disruption", despite contingency measures.

"My door remains open should the BMA cancel these disruptive strikes and come back to the negotiating table, as we were making good progress," she added.