­JUNIOR doctors again took to the streets of Farnham last Friday in an effort to galvanise support against the government’s decision to impose a new contract this August.

Around 100 junior doctors – everyone up to consultant level - met the public at the Farnham United Reformed Church in South Street at noon where guest speakers Dr Louise Irvine, GP and British Medical Association council representative, and Dr Johann Malawana, chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors’ Committee, discussed the imposed changes.

After the meeting, the doctors hit the streets to talk to shoppers as part of the ongoing ‘Meet the Doctors’ campaign.

It comes ahead of a threatened dramatic escalation of the dispute between doctors’ union the British Medical Association and the Department of Health next week.

Between the hours of 8am and 5pm on Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27, BMA members across the UK will withdraw all labour - including emergency care - for the first time in NHS history.

This is expected to cause significant disruption to patients who were due to have planned operations, procedures and outpatient appointments during this period at both Frimley Park and the Royal Surrey hospitals.

In a letter sent to Health Secretary and MP for South West Surrey Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday, the BMA’s Dr Malawana promised to call off next week’s industrial action should the Government lift its threatened imposition of the contract.

Dr Malawana said: “The imposition of this contract is tremendously damaging to the morale of junior doctors and medical students and has resulted in a complete breakdown of trust between doctors and the Government.

“It is this decision which has led to the current, lamentable situation, the resolution to which is now squarely in your hands.

“As you know, no junior doctor wants to have to take industrial action, but they have been left without further recourse.

“Junior doctors who I meet up and down the country are saying that they will not accept a contract being forced on them, a contract which the Government’s own equality impact assessment acknowledges to be discriminatory to women.”

However, in a stark reply to Dr Malawana, Mr Hunt again criticised the BMA for refusing to compromise on the only remaining issue of Saturday pay and accused the union of risking patients’ safety by calling a full-walkout.

The MP said: “Once again, the industrial action that you and your committee plan greatly risks patient safety. You yourself acknowledged that fact when you asked emergency paediatrics to be exempted from a full walkout.

“You will have seen in recent days a number of very senior doctors, including the Chief Medical Officer, NHS England Medical Director and Lord Darzi, asking junior doctors to think very carefully about their position and whether to take industrial action.

“But we must be clear that anyone deciding – at your urging – to withdraw potentially lifesaving care for patients is making a choice to do so. Many will find this disproportionate given the matter still in dispute is Saturday pay rates.”

Ahead of the proposed full walkout, the Royal Surrey in Guildford has confirmed it is putting together a “comprehensive and rigorous plan” to safeguard patients.

Royal Surrey medical director Christopher Tibbs said: “As always patient safety remains our number one priority and we are putting together exhaustive plans to ensure that this is not compromised.

“Junior doctors make up a significant part of our medical workforce and account for around 50 per cent of our doctor population, so the proposed full walkout will have a considerable impact on some services.

“We will continue to offer a full emergency service should the strike go ahead, but it will see the postponement of the majority of planned elective surgical procedures and more outpatient appointments than on previous occasions.

“If you have an operation, procedure or appointment during the proposed strike we will contact you if it needs to be re-arranged. Otherwise, please come to the hospital as organised.

“We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused to patients, but are ask for their understanding.

“Please remember, that your GP practice will be open as normal during the proposed industrial action. If you need medical help, but it’s not serious or life threatening please contact your GP, visit your local pharmacy and walk in centre and call NHS 111.

“If your condition is serious or life threatening, you should call 999 or come to A&E.”