Junior doctors send message to Jeremy Hunt on the steps of Hackney Town Hall
Anna Feld and Jess Brittain-George outside Hackney Town Hall - Credit: Archant
Hackney junior doctors were part of the NHS choir singing for NHS survival yesterday.
A team of 20 NHS workers that included junior doctors, midwives, nurses and clinical coders trekked around the capital to make their voices heard.
Hackney-raised Jess Brittain-George was one of the 20-strong choir who serenaded passers-by yesterday.
The team was part of the tens of thousands of junior doctors who walked out from 8am, for 24 hours, in the second junior doctors’ strike of 2016.
The former Haggerston school pupil said: “We are striking for the safety of our patients and trying to find a new, positive way to get our message across.
“It lets people hear why we are striking and the importance of it in a different way; we’ve had a great response from the public.”
The song was recorded in a studio back in December with a little help from professionals.
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The choir stood on the steps of Hackney Town Hall and sang: “The NHS needs saving and they’re not listening, we’ve got something to say.
“You can save us, don’t let them break us.
“We are your doctors, let’s keep it that way.”
Doctors were also picketing outside Homerton hospital in Homerton Row during the morning, while others stood at the Homerton Overground station during the morning rush hour to explain their stance.
Jess and the team of choir singers soon joined them as they marched to Hackney Town Hall in Mare Street later in the afternoon.
Doctors remain furious with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s proposed changes to their contracts, due to come into effect in August.
The choir was set up by fellow junior doctor Georgina Wood and more than 600 members have signed up to the mailing list highlighting the popularity of the cause.
Jess, 27, said: “We are looking to raise the profile of junior doctors in a way than just shouting on a picket line.
“But I like to think this is more than just the ongoing contacts talks, the choir is going to last way past whenever a solution is found.”
