Junior doctors march during the last wave of strike action photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
The BBC declared that public support for the junior doctors was ‘crumbling’ ahead of their now-suspended five-day strike.
This was on the evidence of a couple of Sun and Mail editorials, and a statement by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (or was it Royal College of Academies?)
Meanwhile, at Salford Shopping Centre on 3 September, there was precisely no evidence of a decline in public support.
Quite the reverse, in fact, as evidenced by the weight of our collecting tin – at least twice as much as last time, despite pouring rain – and dozens of petition signatures. Comments on the doctors striking included:
- “They do right”
- “Of course they should”
- “The Tories just want to privatise the NHS”
- “The Tories don’t care what happens to working class people”
…and an outraged “That Hunt had the cheek to compare himself to Nye Bevan – did you hear that?”
This was one of the more printable comments about Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who can be assured of a warm welcome when he visits Manchester. We’ll be launching our junior doctors’ support group in Salford that same evening.
