Junior doctors on day two of all-out strike

Junior doctors were on the second day of an all-out strike in a dispute with the government over new contracts.

Operations were cancelled and consultants drafted in to staff A&E departments after strikes were called between 8am and 5pm today and yesterday.

It is the fifth round of industrial action over a new junior doctors’ contract the British Medical Association (BMA) fears will lead to unsafe working hours and pay cuts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Previous strikes have included all junior doctors accept those on call to provide emergency cover.

But in an unprecedented move, the BMA called a full withdrawal of labour as the long-running dispute continues.

Patients are advised to attend for outpatient appointments as normal unless they have received a letter from their hospital.

Hospital bosses have appealed for people only to attend A&E if they are in a genuine emergency and to seek help from GPs, pharmacists or the NHS

The latest action was called after health secretary Jeremy Hunt said he would impose the new contract on junior doctors instead of a negotiated settlement being reached with the BMA.

Related topics: