Junior doctors stage second wave of industrial action

Junior doctors across England are staging a second wave of industrial action to protest against government plans for a new contract.

Following mass demonstrations by thousands of junior doctors over their contracts on February 6th, staff have once again taken action by agreeing to provide emergency care only for 24 hours.

Commencing today (February 10th) at 08:00, the action involves more than 160 pickets and meet-the-doctors events across the country, with the intention of communicating to the government that its planned contractual changes are unfair and unsafe.

This is the second day of industrial action, following a similar strike in January. Today's action had been planned for the end of the last month, but was postponed while further talks were carried out. When they proved unsuccessful, the strike was rearranged.

BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana said: "This is a fight for the long-term delivery of high-quality patient care, for junior doctors' working lives and for ability of the NHS to rise to the enormous challenges facing it."