THOUSANDS of protesters marched through Newcastle on Saturday to support hospital doctors who face pay cuts and longer hours.

An estimated 4,000 people took part in the march and rally, including doctors and senior consultants.

Organiser Dr Tom Gorman, trainee GP in Co Durham, said: “We’ve had fantastic support from both the public and consultants.

“We’ve had lots of cheers and handshakes. Lots of people coming to talk to us.”

The Tory government’s attack on the NHS has now extended to imposing contracts on junior doctors which mean a 30 per cent pay cut and extended weekend working.

Dr Gorman said: “I think people understand the general idea that no-one wants to be treated by tired doctors.”

Doctors from Manchester and Glasgow took part in the protest.

Faizan Ismail, a medical student in Newcastle, said: “The reason why most of us marched was because we recognise that an attack on junior doctors’ working conditions and pay is part of a series of measures by the government that will lead to a crisis in the NHS.”

Peter Campbell, a junior doctor at North Tyneside hospital, said the proposed contracts are a “recipe for mistakes to be made.”

He urged junior doctors to vote for strike action and said the march was “just the beginning” of the fight.

Mark Sohatee, a junior doctor at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, said: “Overworked and tired doctors risk patient health. They need to be rested to make life or death decisions.”