MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Last week, junior doctors – medical specialists who have not yet completed their training as a consultant or a general practitioner – across England carried out the first full strike in the history of the National Health Service (NHS). The two-day industrial action saw tens of thousands outpatient appointments cancelled.
According to the Sunday survey carried out by the ORB pollster for The Independent newspaper, 58 percent of those polled supported the action ad believed that the doctors were right to protest against the government move to impose new contracts.
As many as 31 percent of respondents did not believe that the doctors were right in walking out, while 11 percent were not sure.
Jeremy Hunt, secretary of State for Health made his "final offer" in early February, proposing to increase basic pay for work after 5 p.m on Saturdays and raise the wages of those who work regular weekends. The minister has refused to make further concessions, saying before the action that he would hold the striking junior doctors responsible for any potential patient deaths that could be attributed to the strike.
