Angela Rippon sparks outrage after 'ignorant and biased' comments on Junior Doctors crisis
BROADCASTER Angela Rippon sparked outrage as she said Junior Doctors should be negotiating themselves a better deal rather than protesting on the picket line.
Angela Rippon opposed the Junior Doctors strike when she appeared on The One Show
Ms Rippon, who is now vice-president of the Patients Associaiton, appeared on The One Show on BBC One last night.
During a segment on yesterday's strikes, which saw Junior Doctors walk out for the first time in 40 years in a dispute over new contracts, Ms Rippon said Junior Doctors should settle their dispute at the negotiating table.
Her remarks, which came after she visited doctors on a picket line outside John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, triggered a backlash on social media.
On Twitter, Suzie Robbo, said: "She's just made a complete fool of herself stupid woman."
Kiki Motparnasse chimed in saying: "I suspect #AngelaRippon thinks hospitals shut at 5pm and the patients are left to fend for themselves".
The term Angela Rippon even started trending on Twitter as outraged viewers aired their anger online.
During the segment, presenters Alex Jones and Matt Baker, asked Ms Rippon if she had changed her mind about opposing the strike.
Angela Rippon argues that Junior Doctors should not be on the picket line - The One Show
Junior Doctors should be discussing and coming to an agreement, not on the picket lines
Ms Rippon replied: "No I haven't. I think if you have the kind of issues the doctors are arguing about at the moment these are things which should be settled around a table. They should be discussing and coming to an agreement, not on the picket lines."
She continued: "The seven day operation is at the heart of all of this and its not right for doctors to say they can't make it work, they're going to have to make it work because the British public are never going to co-operate by only being ill Monday to Friday.
"They're going to have heart attacks, strokes, accidents, be taken ill on a Saturday and a Sunday and they expect a health service that runs 24/7, 365.
"I still believe they should not have gone on strike and we should have a seven day a week national health service."
Angela Rippon sparked outrage with her comments on The One Show
Ms Rippon interviewed Junior Doctors during her pre-recorded segment.
Rachel Clarke, a Junior Doctor with five years experience, told Ms Rippon trust is missing from the negations which have gone on for the last two years.
Angela rippon on TV,dr,s should not strike but talk around the table errrrrr dimwit been trying to tell hunt for 2 half yrs #savethenhs
— brian6180 (@brian45952858) January 12, 2016
She's just made a complete fool of herself stupid Woman #AngelaRippon @BBCOne #TheOneShow https://t.co/q318MOHPag
— Suzie Robbo (@suzieobbo) January 12, 2016
I suspect #AngelaRippon thinks hospitals shut at 5pm and the patients are left to fend for themselves. #juniordoctors
— kiki montparnasse (@neil_finnweevil) January 12, 2016
Yes I saw Angela Rippon on The One Show. Words almost fail me but I'll throw a few in. Ignorant, biased, uninformed, moronic, naive....
— Vicki (@Vixstero) January 12, 2016
Ms Rippon again asked why Junior Doctors are striking, Ms Clarke replied: "To have a meaningful negotiation something is essential and that is trust.
"I wouldn't trust Jeremy Hunt if he was trying to sell me a used car let alone have the future of the NHS in his hands.
"There is only one thing I care about in this dispute, I care about the safety of my patients. This is not a political game, it's patients lives we are talking about."
A junior doctor holds her baby and a placard as she takes part outside Kings College Hospital
Protesters cross Westminster Bridge outside St Thomas' Hospital in London
The segment provoked uproar on Twitter.
One user posted: "Angela Rippon on TV, drs should not strike but talk around the table errrrrr dimwit been trying to tell hunt for two and a half years #savethenhs."
While another tweeted: "Yes I saw Angela Rippon on The One Show. Words almost fail me but I'll throw a few in. Ignorant, biased, uninformed, moronic, naive."
Tuesday's strike will finish at 8am on Wednesday with further strikes planned fro January 26 and February 10.