Cumbria's junior doctors join 48-hour walkout

Picket line at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary Credit: ITV Border

Junior doctors in Cumbria are on strike today as part of a long-running dispute with the Government over weekend working.

They joined thousands of colleagues across England in a 48-hour walkout that began at 8am this morning.

No operations are expected to be cancelled at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary or the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven but NHS bosses are warning some appointments may be affected.

In south Cumbria, the NHS trust says it has contacted patients who will be affected.

Picket line at Lancaster Royal Infirmary Credit: ITV Border

The current strike is the third walkout called by the British Medical Association in its row with the Government.

Under the new contracts there would be changes to unsocial hours payments and working hours to ensure more junior doctors are available at weekends. The Government say changes are needed to help the NHS improve care at weekends and create a fully seven-day service.