Second day of doctors’ strikes to go ahead after talks break down again

Junior doctors in England will stage a second day of industrial action after contract talks with the government broke down again.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed that the strikes will go ahead after it failed to reach an agreement with NHS Employers and the Department of Health on the issue of unsocial hours.

Originally planned as a full walk-out, the action – which will run for 24 hours from 08:00 GMT on February 10th – will now see junior doctors providing only emergency care during this period.

This mirrors the previous strike, which took place on January 12th and saw the government agree to resume talks with the BMA shortly thereafter. However, the organisation has expressed disappointment about the lack of progress made since then.

Key issues include a refusal to recognise Saturday working under the umbrella of "unsocial hours", together with a continued threat to impose the unpopular contract if an agreement is not reached.

Johann Malawana, the BMA's junior doctors committee chair, said: "The government misrepresents junior doctors as a block to a seven-day NHS, but they already work every day of the week. What we are asking is that this is reflected in fair and affordable recognition of unsocial hours."