Greens back Junior Doctors: Government playing with fire over the dispute

Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, attended a picket outside Barnet General Hospital today to demonstrate the Green Party's solidarity with junior doctors. 

Greens oppose the creeping privatisation of our NHS and are fighting for a publicly funded, publicly provided health service free at the point of use.

Speaking from the picket, Bennett said:

The government is playing with fire with its bullying, disrespectful attitude towards the junior doctors.

There is a global shortage of medical professionals and almost everyone I have spoken to on the doctors' picket lines knows a colleague who has already emigrated. Many more are considering it.

Our talented healthcare professionals are a national asset who are being driven away by this government. We need to value, support and listen to our junior doctors.  

Instead, ministers are failing to address doctors’ serious concerns surrounding safe working conditions, and aren’t offering proper recognition for those working unsocial hours.

The government must rethink the way they're treating our NHS. As a start they should negotiate with the doctors in good faith, and put forward the offer of a contract that is fair and works for staff and patients alike. Until then we’ll continue to stand in solidarity with the junior doctors as they fight for what’s right.