Doctors strike - but life carries on at Wexham Park

But life at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough remained calm as the strike ran its course between 8am and 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

James Taylor, head of communications at the hospital said that things had remained 'very much under control during the two days of action, as people seemed to heed advice and use accident and emergency centre less'.

But more than 40 non-emergency operations were postponed at Wexham Park and its sister Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot.

A total of 476 outpatient appointments were also postponed - freeing up senior doctors and consultants to fill the gaps left in the emergency services by the absence of the junior doctors.

Picketing doctors kept up a modest presence outside the main entrance and received supportive honks from passing cars.

Junior doctor Helen Spindler, 24, said less than 1% of passers-by had been unsympathetic.

Like most of her colleagues she believes the proposed new contract cannot work without money being spent on recruiting more doctors.

She said: "None of us want to be out here, we want to be inside with our patients.

"What they are proposing can't work because there are not enough doctors.

"We already see gaps in the rotas drawn up to ensure safe levels of cover."

Doctors say that the proposed new contract would see doctors who worked till 2am forced to start work again next day. Hospitals would not be required to monitor hours worked and they believe massive extra shifts would result.

Kate Grange, 30 would not have been at work anyway on Wednesday. But she had come straight from doing a night shift to join the picket line in the morning to show support.

Emma Bryden, 35, has been a junior doctor 10 years and fears the NHS will see numbers melting away.

She said: "If we lost 1% of doctors the NHS would be on its knees.

"Doctors can make more money working for pharmaceutical companies, A friend has gone to work in Auckland."