A HEARING at the High Court on whether controversial contracts can be legally imposed on junior doctors will begin today.

Oxfordshire medic Rachel Clarke will be one of just 100 allocated a space in the courtroom to support her colleagues.

The legal battle was launched by 'Justice for Health', a campaign set up by five junior doctors that crowdfunded £300,000 in just weeks to cover costs.

Dr Clarke, 43, said: "This court case is the NHS front line versus the deceit and spin that comes out over and over again from the Department of Health.

"It's going to be really interesting to see what happens. All we've heard so far in this awful year has been spin and counter-spin.

"There's been a lot of emotionally-charged rhetoric on both sides. What's needed now is the cold, objective clarity of a judge."

The basis of the doctors' argument is that the Health Secretary has no power to 'implement' or 'impose' a new contract and has also acted irrationally.

At an interim hearing in July, Mr Justice Green said there was public interest in hearing the case and gave JFH until August 16 to raise £130,000 for Mr Hunt's legal costs.

The group met their target – a UK crowdfunding record – with the help of 10,000 donors and will be backed at court by hundreds demonstrating outside.

Dr Clarke, a mother-of-two, said: "It's absolutely remarkable that they have managed to get this far. They're all working doctors and it's tough.

"The judge is going to listen to all the facts and give a verdict, and whatever it is it's going to be enormously helpful.

"I think there's a good chance it could be damning. It's uncharted territory if the judge says Jeremy Hunt has no power to impose the contract.

"We don't know what the implications will be for the trusts. It's not a fight with them, they're in the middle here."

In October the first non-consultant-level medics at John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals will be expected to start work according to the new contract.

Five days of BMA-led industrial action are set to take place in October by doctors who say it will stretch them – and by extension NHS services – to breaking point.

Oxfordshire's biggest health trust has set up a project board, including six junior doctors elected by peers, to ensure the "efficient and timely" implementation of the contract. It will give advice to junior doctors, review rotas, prepare work schedules and supporting a newly-appointed 'Guardian of Safe Working Hours'.

In a report for the board of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mark Power, director for organisational development and workforce, said: "A number of challenges associated with the implementation of the new terms and conditions have been identified, and others are likely to emerge.

"However, in establishing an effective infrastructure, the trust is well-placed to address any such issues."

Thousands of junior doctors in the Thames Valley downed tools for days of strike action in January, February, March and April this year.

The High Court case in London is set to run for two days. Doctors will also seek to prove that there is a lack of evidence to support changes to their contracts.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We are resisting the application for judicial review and will seek to persuade the court that the case is without merit.”