JUNIOR doctors are standing on picket lines at Basildon and Southend Hospitals demanding better pay and hoping the Government comes forward with a deal.

The members of the British Medical Association has began the four-day walk out yesterday, with picket lines across the county and country.

It comes after bosses at Southend and Basildon hospitals urged the public only to attend A&E in a “real emergency.”

Junior doctor and union member, Jinnie Shin, has joined colleagues at Basildon Hospital with signs and placards.

She said: “We are seeking full pay restoration, over the past 15 years we’ve seen our pay decrease by 26 per cent.

“Newly qualified doctors earn about £14 per hour and have debt and considering everything we do and our service to the NHS, we would like to see our pay restored back to what it was.

“We are feeling hopeful for a promising outcome from the Government, we hope it decides to come to the table and negotiate.

“We are looking to make things better, we want for their to be a proper work force plan, we want for things to improve in the NHS. You can’t do that if you don’t have doctors and well paid staff.

“The support from the public has been overall very positive, we get lots of thumbs up, people stop and say they support us and what’s going on is really unacceptable.

“We don’t want to strike, we want to be seeing patients but we’ve been put in this situation where we feel we have no other choice.”

Bosses at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals said the latest set of junior doctor strikes are set to be a really challenging period for staff in hospitals and patients needing emergency care.

Chief Medical Officer David Walker said: “The junior doctors’ strike will have a significant impact on the level of care we can safely provide to patients.

“We would urge people to only come to A&E if they know they need life-saving care. Medical staffing will be limited, and we will be focusing on protecting emergency care.

“If people do need emergency treatment, they should absolutely come in as normal. We will be here for you. If you don’t need acute care then you may be putting the safety of those who do at risk.

“We really do appreciate your support in helping us to keep our patients safe during this very challenging time.”