Junior doctors to strike Tuesday

“This agreement would allow a time-limited period during which negotiations can take place and during which the BMA agrees to suspend strike action, and the Government agrees not to proceed unilaterally with implementing a new contract”.

Mr Hunt told the House of Commons’ hospitals had already cancelled operations ahead of the strike and NHS leaders still had to carry on making plans for a walk-out.

This article will be updated.

Henna Anwar, a Yorkshire BMA representative from Huddersfield, said: “I never thought as a doctor, that I would ever partake in strike action”.

“The law does not permit them to take part in industrial action but their support for services during the industrial action is welcome”.

“GMB is encouraging members to show support for the junior doctors on the picket lines”.

A 24-hour hour strike was scheduled to start at 8am on Tuesday December 1, when striking junior doctors are only due to provide emergency care.

But by imposing a contract that changes the definition of anti-social hours and removes restrictions on the length of their shifts juniors work, the government will, we believe, force many more overworked, disillusioned doctors to choose to work overseas, where their skills, dedication and reasonable desire for tolerable working conditions are more readily appreciated.

She said: “This proposed contract is not safe and the reason for the strike is to ensure that all future contracts for doctors working in the NHS are safe for patients”.

The terms would see an 11 per cent rise in basic pay, to offset a reduction in premiums for hours worked at weekends and evenings.

Doctors are concerned that new contracts will extend the hours for which they are paid basic rates (7am-7pm Monday to Friday), to 7am-10pm Monday to Saturday.

Junior doctors are considering a potential deal with the Government that would suspend tomorrow’s strike. More than 37,000 doctors were balloted. It also has other concerns over flexible pay plans for some specialities. We hope the strike is averted.

Rehana Azam, national officer of the GMB union, said “It is very disappointing that Jeremy Hunt has not entered into meaningful dialogue with the junior doctors who are now forced to take industrial action with a heavy heart to defend their terms and conditions of employment”. What we want to make clear is we don’t want a strike, we have been pushed into a corner, and this is the last resort of a bullied workforce under a monopoly employer. “Rather than attacking junior doctors, the secretary of state should be taking up the BMA’s offer to discuss how we resolve this dispute through [the advisory, conciliation and arbitration service]”.