LONDON -- In a speech that aimed to "set out the direction of reform for the future NHS" last week, UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt detailed the Conservative government's commitment to providing seven-day care for patients.
Hunt's speech stated that all newly hired hospital consultants will be required by contract to work weekends; by the end of parliament, Hunt said, the majority of doctors will be on seven day contracts.
It was to end a "Monday to Friday culture" in parts of the NHS, he said.
Following the speech, NHS staff nationwide took to the Internet to express their distaste towards Hunt's "flippant remarks," stating that the secretary is out of touch.
A petition was launched, asking for the removal or resignation of Hunt as Secretary of State for Heath, and has since garnered over 60,000 signatures.
On top of this, to prove that the UK does, in fact, already have a seven-day service in hospitals, consultants, surgeons, nurses, midwifes and other health workers posted selfies of themselves on Twitter, working at the weekend, using the hashtag #ImInWorkJeremy.
Here are some of the best of those that made themselves heard.
Seeing patients. Drinking coffee. Storing your comments in a box behind me #ImInWorkJeremy pic.twitter.com/WHzJEfl5sB— Dr Keith Grimes (@keithgrimes) July 18, 2015
Hey @Jeremy_Hunt #ImInWorkJeremy about to start a night shift because babies aren't born 9-5, shock horror... pic.twitter.com/eJcFBz1ec0— Abigail (@topknotsand) July 18, 2015
Living the dream on ICU Jezza #ImInWorkJeremy @Jeremy_Hunt @IminworkJeremy pic.twitter.com/xTVcJ0Pjqf— Mike (@mikecarrick1) July 18, 2015
Hi Jeremy. Its 0320 on saturday here in A&E. Could we conference call to discuss my lack of vocation? #ImInWorkJeremy pic.twitter.com/PMq4IzDNqL— Tom Evens (@DocTomEvens) July 18, 2015
I spend 50% of all weekends at work, we even treat MPs, they don't come in at weekends though? #ImInWorkJeremy pic.twitter.com/5A6q1hMIwc— Henry (@Hrcb84) July 20, 2015
Tripped over another bloody Consultant. #ImInWorkJeremy pic.twitter.com/JQRQvXZ3cg— Mark Woodward (@woodybristol) July 18, 2015
The clock shows Hunt and his staff were very slow to react to #ImInWorkJeremy. Probably 'cos they weren't in work. pic.twitter.com/CLMXIDcVcm— Peter Smith (@Redpeter99) July 20, 2015
Hunt tried to join the conversation during the weekend, which went down as well as you'd imagine.
To drs on shift 2day: thx 4 ur hard work. Now we need 2 reflect that professionalism wth modern contract 2 make NHS safer!#ImInWorkJeremy— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 18, 2015