However, prospects of a breakthrough in the dispute appeared to be more distant than ever after the BMA accused ministers and NHS officials of causing a “fundamental breakdown in trust” following Tuesday’s walkout.
Advertisement
A spokesman for the BMA said: “Since we asked Junior Doctors who would be covering emergency care to go into work today, it is hardly surprising that they have done so along with those who are not members of the BMA”.
Senior house officer in cardiology Dr Claire Coyle said: “Tired doctors make mistakes and that is why it is so disappointing the government has failed to engage with our concerns about safe guarding junior doctor working hours”.
Talks between the BMA and NHS bosses are continuing, with issues including weekend pay and the need for appropriate safeguards in place to stop doctors over-working.
The BMA said junior doctors would take strike action for the first time in 40 years after the latest round of negotiations in the long-running row ended last week.
Junior doctors and supporters picketed outside Scarborough Hospital today united with the national strike against the government’s new contracts.
They would retain the higher level of pay after 7pm on Saturday and all day Sunday.
Yesterday we reported how the trust said the strike had led to 68 appointments, and 13 elective surgical cases, being cancelled.
But the British Medical Association said junior doctors should not return to work unless NHS England declared a “major, unpredictable incident” had taken place at an NHS trust.
About 50,000 junior doctors – those who are training and have between one and 10 years of experience – were on strike for 24 hours protesting government plans to change pay and work schedules.
Only doctors in England are taking action.
If there is an all-out strike by junior doctors, nobody will die because of it?
The doctors will provide emergency cover only during the 24-hour walkout, which got under way at 08:00 GMT.
At the moment it’s expensive for hospitals to employ lots of doctors at the weekends because they get paid more for working on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as at night.
Advertisement
“We are really against detrimental changes that would affect the safety of patients and the fair treatment of current and future doctors”. We are offering all of the patients affected an alternative date as soon as possible.
