HUNDREDS of junior doctors will walk out tomorrow to take part in a nation-wide protest against proposed new contracts.

In a bid to create a seven-day NHS, minister for health Jeremy Hunt has put forward his proposals for major changes to contracts for doctors to come into effect as of next August.

But junior doctors are arguing that the contracts will force them to work longer hours with no extra pay.

More than 100 staff at Northwick Park are taking part in the 24-hour strike tomorrow, from midnight tonight, providing ‘emergency care only’ for 24 hours.

A picket line and demonstration will start at the hospital in Watford Road at 8am, and will be followed by a march to Harrow town centre at 2pm.

Although the proposals are said to only affect ‘junior’ doctors, the reality is that most doctors are ‘junior’ until they become a consultant – usually in their late 30s.

The starting salary for a junior doctor at Foundation Year 1 is just under £23,000 a year, which rises to around £30,000 within four years.

Doctors in specialist training, such as registrars, earn between £30,002 and £47,175.

A statement from striking staff at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore said: “We regret the disruption that this will cause to patients due to the cancellation of planned operations and clinic appointments.

“However, we strongly feel that if we do not take action now, the long term implications will be far worse.

“We are very grateful to the management, consultants, other medical and non-medical staff at the RNOH who are supporting our stance and will be providing excellent care on site to ensure that no patients are put at risk.?

“Similar to other health professionals in the NHS, as junior doctors we care a great deal for our patients and want to provide the best service to them.

“We fear that allowing the Government to impose the new contract on us will be a major step towards the destruction of the NHS.”

A full walk-out is planned from 8am-5pm on December 8 and again a week later on December 16.