Nursing students to join junior doctors in emergency rally

Nursing students will support junior doctors tomorrow in their battle against the imposition of a new work contract.

The Not Without a Fight: Save Our NHS emergency rally will be held at Conway Hall in London from 6.30pm.

The event has been arranged in response to health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s announcement last week that he intends to impose a new contract for junior doctors despite opposition from the profession.

Doctors' union the British Medical Association and the government were unable to reach agreement on the contract, particularly regarding the definition of unsocial hours working.

Speakers confirmed to attend the rally include actor Vanessa Redgrave, filmmaker Ken Loach and comedian Francesca Martinez.

There will also be contributions from Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and union representatives, as well as a performance from the National Health Singers. 

Nursing students protested last week against government plans to scrap the nursing bursary and replace it with a loans system. 

Third year King's College London nursing student Danielle Tiplady, who will speak at the rally, said: ‘Jeremy Hunt and the government’s actions are an attack on the whole NHS and the only way to respond is for everyone who works in it and benefits from it to unite and fight together.

‘We have got to build this movement and make sure the public are fully aware of what is going to happen.'

To book a place on the rally, click here