Wirral junior doctors join second 24-hour walk-out in contract dispute

“It’s awful that people are going to have to wait for operations but, as doctors, we have to weigh up whether something that in the short term is going to inconvenience our patients is going to prevent years and years of unsafe practice”.

Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders has asked Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt if he personally vetoed a deal which would have ended tomorrow’s strike by junior doctors. We know how upsetting and frustrating this can be for our patients, but we must prioritise our services on the day for anyone whose care could be compromised if it was delayed.

The British Medical Association (BMA) had been in last-minute discussions with the Department of Health to avert action.

Her comments come two days before the second junior doctors’ strike, when thousands of medics will down tools over government plans to impose a new contract on them.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning the trust’s chief executive Matthew Hopkins said 45 operations and 151 outpatient appointments had been cancelled.

However, due to increased pressures on the hospital over this 24-hour period, those in less urgent need of care may experience longer waiting times than normal and some planned clinics and operations have been postponed.

NHS England later confirmed 43 percent (out of 26,000 doctors on a typical day) had turned up for work on Wednesday.

But the sticking point remains the time at which premium rates of pay kick in for doctors working weekends.

But in a new offer, dated January 16, ministers said that as part of an overall agreement, a premium rate of pay could kick in from 5pm on Saturdays rather than 7pm.

“The contract proposals prioritise patient safety and offer junior doctors’ safer working hours, with the majority seeing a pay rise and nobody working legal hours seeing their pay cut”.

Doctors are arguing the changes – proposed to improve seven-day NHS services – will result in a pay cut.

A new poll has found that 66 per cent of adults in England support the strike.

Dr Aaron Borbora, chairman of the BMA’s junior doctor committee in Merseyside, said: “We are continuing to enjoy strong public support”.