ANGRY junior doctors from across Sussex are joining a mass protest later this month in a row over pay and working conditions.

Medics from around the country will be taking part in the rally in London on October 17 and will be supported by other doctors, nurses and healthcare workers.

The escalating dispute stems from Government plans to impose a new seven day contract on doctors, ranging from junior to consultant level, next year.

It is part of moves to create a “seven-day” NHS service across the country.

Doctors say the NHS already provides a week long service and changing working conditions will only encourage young doctors to leave the NHS or work abroad.

One junior doctor, who works for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Doctors already work throughout the week.

“The changes being put forward will basically put people off working for the NHS and that will lead to more pressures and potentially affect patient care.”

The contract will reclassify doctors' normal working week to include Saturdays and up to 10pm every night of the week except Sunday.

Medics argue they will lose out financially as evenings and Saturdays will be paid at the standard rate rather than a higher rate.

They say this amounts to pay cuts of up to 30%.

The seven-day working would mean that hospitals would have outpatient appointments, scans, tests and routine surgery at the weekends instead of just during the week.

At the moment the focus is more on emergency and urgent care at the weekend.

NHS England medical director Sir Bruce Keogh has set out 10 new clinical standards to describe the urgent and emergency care all patients should expect seven days a week.

This includes how quickly they are assessed by a consultant and the process of handovers between clinical teams.

Sussex’s three hospital trusts have already been making progress to meet these standards, including carrying out non-urgent scans and co-ordinating with community trusts and councils so patients can be discharged at the weekend and free up beds.

However medics say there needs to be full detail provided as to how seven-day services will be staffed and funded given the shortage of doctors in many parts of the NHS.

A Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: “We are currently working towards compliance with the 10 national clinical standards but our hospitals do work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with patients being treated, admitted and discharged at weekends as well as during the week.

“Some of our services are reduced at the weekends but non-resident consultant cover is available to all patients in all areas.

“We also have a number of services that have consultants working at the weekends, such as in A&E, and speciality doctors are present at all times.”

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust deputy medical director Rob Haigh said: “My colleagues and I are committed to continually improving our services so that all our patients benefit, no matter what day of the week, or time of day they need our care.

“Our hospitals provide many services in the evening and weekends but, over the past 18 months, we have also been making good progress on implementing the new clinical standards proposed by Sir Bruce Keogh.”