MEDICAL students fear jobs for junior doctors will become oversubscribed in Scotland because of the controversial shake up of working conditions south of the border.
A protest about the new contract which Westminster Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has threatened to impose is due to take place in Dundee.
The students behind the rally say there is anxiety posts for new medical graduates in Scotland will become much more competitive because the Scottish Government has vowed not to copy Mr Hunt's plan - which will increase the hours junior doctors work for standard rates of pay. As a result they fear more Scottish graduates may have to take work in England where the contract will be in force from next summer.
Amy Fitzpatrick, one of the student organisers behind the demonstration, said: "It is a concern that a lot of my colleagues have expressed. It is true there have been many posts under-filled in Scotland in the past. But we are concerned many, many more people will apply to Scotland."
The British Medical Association has raised concerns that, as well as being unfair on doctors, the contract will be unsafe for patients as it will lead to young medics working longer hours and more fatigue.
A recent investigation by The Herald recently found some health boards already rota some junior doctors to work more than 100 hours between days off under their current contract.
Ms Fitzpatrick said: "The imposition of these contracts would remove safeguards which protect the wellbeing of doctors and, by extension, the safety of patients. Over worked, exhausted and demoralised doctors will not be able to deliver an acceptable standard of care. Personally, I am worried about my training and the future of the NHS as a whole if these changes are foisted on to junior doctors in England."
More than 300 people have expressed their intention to attend the rally in Dundee City Square, outside Caird Hall, on Wednesday at 4pm. The date of the protest coincides with the deadline for junior doctors to vote in the BMA's ballot on industrial action over the contractual changes.
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