Junior doctors begin five-day walkout as General Election looms

The NHS has warned of 'major disruption' to services, as junior doctors walk out on strike for five days. ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry reports

Junior doctors have warned of further strikes to come this summer, as a five-day walkout by medics gets underway across England.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said more strike action could follow, if the next government does not move forward negotiations with junior doctors in a "timely manner".

Thousands of junior doctors will strike around the country between Thursday, June 27 and Tuesday, July 2 - the eleventh such walkout since their dispute with the government began some 20 months ago.

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has promised to hold talks with BMA representatives on Friday, July 5, if his party is elected, according to junior doctors.

In England, junior doctors have said their pay has been cut by more than a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% pay uplift.

But Mr Streeting has said he will not meet the 35% ask, saying that if he gave into the demand then "any trade union worth their salt" would come back the following year with the same request.

He has said there is "space for a discussion" on pay, as well as negotiations on how to improve working conditions for medics in training.

Senior BMA members have conceded the union had not pushed enough over the last 15 years, saying they had pinned their hopes on the independent pay review body, which sets the pay of doctors.

They praised the "WhatsApp generation" for their determination and ability to mobilise "instantaneously" using the messaging app.

NHS leaders have raised concerns about the "major disruption" the strike will cause in the aftermath of a heatwave which prompted a yellow "heat-health alert" across much of the country.

Junior doctors have said they will call off the strike if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a credible commitment to restore their pay.

"We were hoping that maybe this would allow him to see how this could be a mutual win for both," said Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the BMA's junior doctors' committee.

He said the current strike mandate ends on Thursday, September 19, adding: "If talks do not move in a timely manner, then of course our members would expect us to call for strike action.

"We have had three 98% 'yes' votes to our ballots for industrial action to restore their pay because they know, unfortunately, words don't mean anything unless it's written down and action is taken to achieve something."

Professor Philip Banfield, the BMA's council chair, said he expects a "tough conversation" with Streeting, adding: "We have met with Labour several times over the last two years - we haven't always agreed, we've had disagreements.

"So, do I expect the conversation to take place? Yes."

Junior doctors make up half of the medical workforce and their last walkout in February led to 91,048 appointments, procedures and operations being cancelled.

NHS leaders have said people should continue to use 999 in life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 - on the NHS app, online, or by phone - for other health concerns.

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