Junior doctors walk out on strike for fourth time

A junior doctors from Hull Royal infirmary says today's strike by junior doctors is vital to make the government realise the amount of dissatisfaction there is with the new contracts.

The Department for Health says that the strike is irresponsible and that patients are suffering because of it.

Hundreds of junior doctors across the region are set to walk out for a fourth time this morning over the imposition of a new contract.

The strike action comes after a second legal challenge was launched against the government's proposals.

Today's 48-hour strike which begins at 8am will affect routine and non-urgent care, meaning junior doctors will provide emergency care only.

Junior doctors across the region began another strike today as their dispute with the Government continued.

Picket lines were in place at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary at the start of the 48-hour walkout, which is the third bout of industrial action.

At Leeds General Infirmary protests were also held over health secretary Jeremy Hunt's plan to impose a new contract on junior doctors from August.

Dr Kieran Zucker is junior doctor:

Hundreds of junior doctors across the Calendar region will go on strike today as their row with the government continues over new contracts which are due to be imposed later this year.

More than 5,000 operations and procedures across England have been cancelled ahead of the 48-hour strike.

It comes after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced he will impose the contract on junior doctors - everyone up to consultant level - after months of talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) failed to reach a resolution.

The new contracts are due to be imposed in August.

Dr John Shaw, a junior doctor from Leeds, says Jeremy Hunt's decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors is "incredibly disappointing." He believes it will increase the feeling of anger among junior doctors. He says the Government is not listening to junior doctors' concerns about safety and working hours.

Dr Johann Malawana, the BMA's junior doctor committee chairman, said: "The decision to impose a contract is a sign of total failure on the Government's part."

He added: "Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract. If the Government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, it needs more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it.

"Rather than addressing these issues, the Health Secretary is ploughing ahead with proposals that are fundamentally unfair.

"This is clearly a political fight for the Government rather than an attempt to come to a reasonable solution for all junior doctors. If it succeeds with its bullying approach of imposing a contract on junior doctors that has been roundly rejected by the profession it will no doubt seek to do the same for other NHS staff."

He continued: "Our message to the Government is clear: junior doctors cannot and will not accept a contract that is bad for the future of patient care, the profession and the NHS as a whole, and we will consider all options open to us."

Junior doctors "cannot and will not accept a contract that is bad for the future of patient care, the profession and the NHS", Dr Johann Malawana from the British Medical Association said, as he vowed the union would "consider all options open to us".

Jeremy Hunt has ordered an urgent review of junior doctors' morale and welfare, led by Dame Sue Bailey of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

The move was recommended by Sir David Dalton, the government's chief negotiator in talks over new contracts.

New contracts for junior doctors will be introduced despite the failure to reach an agreement with the British Medical Association, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.