Medical students held an overnight protest in central London on the 18th July against the removal of free hospital accommodation for newly qualified doctors.

The event, organised by the BMA, saw almost thirty tents representing all the UK medical schools being erected as part of a campaign calling for the reversal of the policy. It is estimated that FY1 doctors will be £4,800 worse off when the changes come into force this month.

"It is a disgrace that the government is adding another financial burden to junior doctors at a time when they are already graduating with average debts in excess of £21,000 - a figure that will rise to well over £35,000 with the introduction of variable top up fees," said Ian Noble, Chairman of the BMA's Medical Students Committee.

Hospitals were required to provide free accommodation to doctors as part of the Medical Act in 1983. In the past accommodation support was used as an argument by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body against larger increases in basic junior doctor salaries.

www.bma.org.uk

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