A junior doctor based in Stanmore is teaming up with a renowned dance musician to release a themed charity single.

Rishi Dhir, singing under the stage name Doctor Rishi, is an orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

The 35-year-old, who has been a junior doctor for ten years, penned the solidarity anthem entitled “Stand Up (#notsafenotfair)” to highlight the current plight of the NHS.

And he has been gifted a helping hand by David Randall, the guitarist from well-known electronic band Faithless.

Harrow Times:

“The way people have stuck together and fought together inspired me,” he said.

“I’ve been a singer for many years – it is my creative expression – and music is a good medium to get the message out there.

“I told a good friend of mine what I was doing and she introduced me to Dave. We got to work together in the last few weeks – I feel really blessed.

“It’s my story and my words so I felt I should sing it.”

Recording the track and creating the accompanying video was a lot of fun, admits Dr Rishi.

However the song has a very pertinent message given Friday’s deadline for medical professionals to decide whether to accept the new proposed junior doctors’ contract.

“In my ten years as a junior doctor, I have experienced at first hand the struggles that we face on a daily basis, and the constant striving to gain the best and safest working conditions for patients and staff, which is under serious threat,” said Dr Rishi.

“The new contract has a lot of problems still. They are trying to stretch overtime without putting more money in, which opens the door for privatisation.

“Junior doctors have been attacked for being greedy and have been vilified by the government. As doctors you grow up not going into the profession for money but to help people. It’s a profession of care.”

All proceeds from the song, available for download from iTunes and Deezer, will go to a depression and healthcare charity.

And Dr Rishi has high hopes for his medical medley.

“We’re hoping to raise in the tens of thousands,” he said.

“I want everyone to download and share the single to get the message out there.”  

The charity single can be downloaded at https://geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/album/stand-up-single/id1127300573?app=itunes and http://www.deezer.com/track/127250803