Brake Shows Solidarity at Junior Doctors' Rally

8.23.21am GMT Sun 18th Mar 2007

Training Crisis Could Cause Braindrain of British Junior Doctors

Tom Brake joined a number of his constituents and 12,000 junior doctors and their supporters at the end of their protest march in Lincolns Inn Fields in London on Saturday (17th March 2007). The junior doctors are campaigning against plans which restrict the training that is available for doctors who are seeking to become consultants.

Tom Brake, Carshalton and Wallington's Lib Dem MP, who was joined on the platform by David Cameron MP, said to the assembled crowd.

"These are strange times in the NHS. Investment has trebled in the last ten years from £30 billion to over £90 billion. Yet we are advising doctors whose training has cost a quarter of a million pounds to go and get jobs abroad.

"What the NHS needs is fewer re-organisations and targets, less interference and more consultation with patients and professionals. The NHS must allow the professionals the freedom to practise."

Tom Brake pledged Lib Dem support for cross-party efforts to secure a resolution to this training crisis.