Thousands of UK doctors walk off the job in pay dispute

“The BMA wants a contract that is safe for patients, fair for junior doctors and good for the NHS: it is time for the government to listen to these concerns”.

But hospital chiefs pledge robust enough staffing plans in place to prevent potential chaos after holding crunch meetings with department heads.

“Look specifically at the fact that anyone working legal hours will not have their pay cut and indeed 75 percent of junior doctors will see a pay increase”.

During a second planned strike, on Tuesday January 26, the same level of emergency care will be provided – but this time for 48 hours.

Picket lines were formed at hospitals across the region including Darlington Memorial, James Cook, the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton and the University Hospital of North Durham.

Patients will be notified in advance if their appointments are cancelled and their bookings will be rescheduled.

He added: “The simple maths means that however you jiggle the contract, it is inherently unfair, because doctors who work the most weekends and nights will be the most disadvantaged”.

NHS England said 1,425 inpatient operations and procedures were being cancelled as a result of the strike along with 2,535 outpatient ones.

“Our A&E continues to be extremely busy and we have been assured by our local CCGs that the strike will have no impact on routine GP appointments or primary healthcare services so we would once again remind people to only come to A&E if it is a genuine medical emergency”.

But she urged other patients with unaffected appointments to turn up as normal and for everyone else to attend if the strikes are called off.

A trust spokesman said: “We would like to assure our patients that we will continue to provide our high standards of care in all circumstances throughout this period”.

We answer seven key questions about the strike.

“We expect the majority of outpatient clinics to go ahead as planned and will contact patients individually if there is any change to their scheduled appointment or operation”.

“We know that is what doctors want too, so it is extremely disappointing that the BMA has chosen to take industrial action which helps no one”. “This is particularly regrettable and we urge both sides in this dispute to work harder at finding a solution to the last remaining issues”.

Rehana Azam, GMB’s acting National Secretary for public services, said members should take banners and flags to show their support.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) will be supporting picketers outside Maidstone Hospital in Hermitage Lane and Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Tonbridge Road. The BMA has said the strikes “demonstrated the strength of feeling amongst the profession”.

Ministers offered doctors an 11 per cent rise in basic pay to try and introduce a 24/7 service but medics claim resources will be stretched to breaking point by having the same staff work longer hours.