AROUND 100 junior doctors staged a lively protest in Glasgow’s George Square tonight in a show of support for medics south of the border battling “unsafe” changes to working conditions.

Doctors below consultant level in England are considering industrial action over a new “seven days” contract which they believe will put patients at risk.

The change will cut junior doctors’ pay by up to a third by removing the pay boosts they currently receive for working evenings and Saturdays, which will be treated as regular hours.

Under the proposals, doctors would be paid the same rate for working at 9pm on a Saturday as 9am on week days.

Medics waved placards and chanted “not fair, not safe” in George Square in a show of support for colleagues.

The British Medical Association is preparing to ballot members for strike action.

Only junior doctors in England are affected, as both the Scottish and Welsh devolved governments have promised to maintain the existing contract.

Dr Malcolm White, a junior doctor based in Glasgow, who organised the event, said: “If the contract goes through it will have a really negative effect on conditions.

“Our priority is to keep patients safe and it’s going to be a very dangerous situation.

“There will be less safeguards on the number of hours doctors work.

“Tired doctors make mistakes, that’s the reality.

“The NHS is being stretched to breaking point and this is another step towards very dangerous times for the NHS.”

The UK Health Secretary insisted yesterday that junior doctors’ pay will not be cut and they will not be asked to work longer hours under Government plans for seven-day NHS services.

Jeremy Hunt said it is “utterly irresponsible” to suggest he is trying to introduce “unsafe” longer working hours and pay cuts, and he called on doctors to work with ministers to deliver seven-day services.

Former health minister Dan Poulter said the anger from doctors was understandable and based on “valid” concerns, including about patient safety.

But Mr Hunt insisted he wants to support doctors who work at weekends with “properly staffed shifts” and safe working hours.