They joined demonstrations across the country which saw junior doctors not covering emergency care in a full withdrawal of labour. Everyone I’ve spoken to supports the junior doctors.
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More than 125,000 appointments and operations have been cancelled because of the strike action and will need to be rearranged.
He said it was “utterly contemptible” that Mr Hunt had failed to reach an agreement with junior doctors, despite having “every conceivable opportunity”.
The contract changes include the curbing of junior doctors’ pay package and changes to what is classed as “unsociable hours”.
JUNIOR doctors at Warrington Hospital have walked out for the fifth time this year in the most severe strike yet.
Around 50 doctors picketed outside Royal Stoke University Hospital, with local feeling in support of the strike.
Dr John Farrant, who is a British Medical Association rep, said: “This is a big step for us and it is unprecedented – I think that highlights how strongly we feel about these unfair and unsafe contracts”.
Emergency cover was being provided across the NHS by consultants as juniors protesting over new contracts took to picket lines. Junior doctors in the United Kingdom can be newly qualified or have up to 10 years’ experience.
Hospital sources said the reallocation of consultants was likely to cause delays in discharging patients previously admitted to wards.
The NHS said hospital trusts have reported that they expect 12,711 postponed elective operations over the period from April 18 to May 2 – 4,187 relating to inpatient cases and 8,524 day cases.
He also said that the trust worked closely with its partners to ensure that before and during the strike people knew about alternative treatment options available to them, including their pharmacist, GP and NHS 111 with an additional 16 Global Positioning System also being provided to offer extra appointments. This reduction will enable staff to concentrate on providing the care needed for patients already in hospital and those who need emergency care.
How long has the contract dispute been going on for?
His message was echoed by David Cameron, who told ITV News, that the strike action was “the wrong thing to do”.
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BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana said the two days of industrial action represented one of the lowest points in the history of the NHS.
