Dozens of junior doctors gathered outside West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth as the one-day strike got underway.
Campaigners were seen waving banners and placards on the busy Twickenham Road as part of a 24-hour nationwide walkout opposing changes to junior doctors’ contracts on Tuesday (January 12).
Joining junior doctors and medical students on the picket line which started at 8am was member of the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) Laurel Fogarty.
She said the public support was overwhelming, with passing drivers honking their horns and shouting “keep up the good work”, a number of people offering to hand out leaflets, and parents of children at a nearby primary school even popping over with biscuits for the junior doctors.
“I wanted to show my support because they (junior doctors) do an amazing job in extremely difficult circumstances,” the University College London researcher told getwestlondon.
“Their jobs are life or death for everybody and I think they deserve better than being asked to do more hours for less pay.
“I think they deserve good working conditions. They deserve a family life as much as everyone else does.
“These new contacts are being imposed. They haven’t been negotiated. I think the government should listen to their concerns because if they’re overworked we’re in more danger.”
Banners displayed the messages ‘Save our NHS’ ‘Junior doctor contract - NO - Not fair Not safe’ as well as placards with ‘TOOT to support Junior Doctors’.
On Twitter there were messages of support from people passing by the junior doctors on strike.
Cybergibbons tweet read: “Junior docs getting loads of support from pedestrians and drivers outside West Mid Hospital.”
The NHS Foundation Trust which runs West Middlesex Hospital said unless told otherwise, all patients with planned hospital appointments had been cancelled and should not attend the hospital.
The trust added it had placed its priority in emergency care during the 24-hour industrial action.
A statement on the website read: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused due to circumstances outside our control (this is a national strike) and we will be in touch to rebook your appointment as quickly as we can.”
