Junior doctors go on strike

Junior doctors in England are taking industrial action today (Tuesday, 12 January) after talks between the BMA and NHS Employers failed to reach an agreement.

Commenting, Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: “Throughout this process the BMA has been clear that it wants to reach agreement on a contract that is good for patients, junior doctors and the NHS. This is why, despite overwhelming support for industrial action, the BMA instead sought conciliation talks with the Government, talks which were initially rejected and delayed by Jeremy Hunt.

“After weeks of further negotiations, it is clear that the Government is still not taking junior doctors’ concerns seriously. Furthermore, the Government has repeatedly dragged its feet throughout this process, initially rejecting our offer of talks and failing to make significant movement during negotiations.

“We sincerely regret the disruption that industrial action will cause, but junior doctors have been left with no option. It is because the Government’s proposals would be bad for patient care as well as junior doctors in the long-term that we are taking this stand.”

In an interview in The Telegraph on Sunday, Mr Hunt said accident and emergency departments could be forced to close and thousands of operations will have to be cancelled because of the strike.

"Patients must always come before politics. Whatever the political heat of the moment, whatever the anger in the end patients have to come first," he said.

He also claimed that "some elements" of the British Medical Association, the doctor's union, are using the strikes as a "political opportunity to bash a Tory Government that they hate".

The doctors will provide emergency cover only during the 24-hour walkout, which began at 08:00 GMT.

Hospitals have so far postponed 4,000 routine treatments, while appointments and tests are also being hit.