A Christian medical student has said he supports NHS doctor's decisions to strike in December "to protect its long term future."
Alex Cripps was speaking after 98% of doctors who voted in the British Medical Association ballot supported industrial action. Walkouts in December will take place on the 1st-2nd, 8th and 16th of the month. It is the first strike by doctors in England in 40 years.
Medics have argued that Jeremy Hunt's proposed contract changes will have doctor's working more hours for less money. They claim this will put patients and staff at risk, and eventually ruin the institution of the NHS.
The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has offered to increase junior doctor's basic pay by 11%, but is cutting regular pay increases and pay for unsociable hours such as nights and weekends. He has claimed there are more avoidable fatalities on the weekend than on weekdays, and wants to stop this by creating a "seven-day NHS".
Mr Hunt has also said December strikes will unnecessarily put patients at risk.
Both sides have accused the other of failing to negotiate to find a solution.
Alex Cripps told Premier's News Hour: "The fact that he [Jeremy Hunt] continues to use statistics in such an inappropriate way begins to make me think that this isn't an honest mistake that he's making and this is potentially a cynical use of statistics to further his political aims.
"Just this week he said in Parliament that it was a fact that 10% of patients admitted on a weekend are seen by a senior doctor within 14 hours, but that's completely untrue because the statistic's closer to 80%.
Speaking about his wife, who is already a junior doctor, Mr Cripps said: "She wasn't imagining that she was going to have to take steps to walk out. [There is an] immediate duty of patient care, but the reason that she and other junior doctors feel it's necessary is because they have a greater duty of care to the NHS as a whole and to protect its long term future."
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "It is regrettable that junior doctors have voted for industrial action which will put patients at risk and see operations cancelled or delayed.
"We want to ensure patients have the same quality of care across the week, and have put forward a generous offer that increases basic pay by 11% and reduces doctors' hours.
"We hope junior doctors will consider the impact this action - especially the withdrawal of emergency care - will have on patients and reconsider."
Regarding accusations regarding the misuse of statistics, a Department of Health spokesperson said: "The Health Secretary has rightly pointed out that only 10% of hospitals consistently provide the crucial consultant care patients deserve across the week.
"Without this, patients could be denied important treatment which should always be available to ensure the best clinical outcomes. Far more must be done and we make no apology for highlighting this issue in order to tackle it."
The government is putting in contingency plans for patients during the December strikes.
Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speaking to Alex Cripps on the News Hour:
