Junior doctors strike: How far have talks got?

The BMA and the government are locked in an increasingly bitter row over the changes to contracts.

Many junior doctors argue the changes to the contacts are "unsafe and unsustainable".

The BMA said strike action comes "after the Government's continued failure to address junior doctors' concerns about the need for robust contractual safeguards on safe working, and proper recognition for those working unsocial hours."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said "good progress" had been made in talks, "resolving 15 of 16 issues forward by the union - everything apart from weekend pay".

The current round of talks was based on the government's offer from November which included an 11% rise in basic pay for junior doctors.

This is offset by plans to cut the number of hours on a weekend for which junior doctors can claim extra pay for unsocial hours.

Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay.

Under the Government's revised offer, a higher rate would run from 10pm to 7am Monday to Friday, and from 7pm on Saturday evenings.

This is a concession on the previous 10pm.

Under the Government's offer, junior doctors would receive time and a half for any hours worked Monday to Sunday between 10pm and 7am, and time and a third for any hours worked between 7pm and 10pm on Saturdays and 7am and 10pm on Sundays.

Junior doctors would also receive on-call availability allowances, ranging from 2% to 6% of basic pay, as well as payment for work undertaken as a result of being on-call.

Mr Hunt has argued that, under the new deal, just 1% of doctors would lose pay and those would be limited to doctors working too many hours already.

The BMA has said the increase in basic pay is misleading due to the changes to pay for unsocial hours.

It also has concerns over flexible pay plans for some specialities.