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Thousands of operations cancelled despite junior doctors strike delay

Thousands of patients have had their appointments and operations cancelled despite the suspension of a planned three-day strike by junior doctors.

Strike action in England had been due to go ahead today, but was called off after a temporary agreement was reached between government officials, the British Medical Association (BMA) and NHS Employers.

Despite the last-minute deal the situation has led to major disruption to the NHS.

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Hunt: Vote for strike action 'very disappointing'

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the vote for strike actionas "very, very disappointing news".

Mr Hunt said contingency plans would be put in place "to make sure patients are safe".

We want to be able to promise NHS patients they will get the same high quality care every day of the week. Study after study has shown our mortality rates at weekends are too high.

We put forward a very fair offer for junior doctors which will see pay go up for three quarters of junior doctors. We wanted to talk about this to them but in the end they've chosen to strike so we will now have to put in place contingency plans to make sure patients are safe over a very busy period for the NHS.

– Jeremy Hunt

A junior doctor has told ITV News he doesn't want to strike but will because he feels the future of the NHS depends on it.

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Thousands of operations cancelled despite junior doctors strike delay

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