Junior doctors to hold three 48-hour strikes

The BMA – the junior doctors’ union – said industrial action will go ahead from 9-11 March, 6-8 April, and 26-28 April. If the strikes go ahead, hundreds of operations could be cancelled, impacting patients across Sussex.

The announcement comes nearly two weeks after the government announced it would impose the new contract on junior doctors.

Until now, the BMA has held two strikes, lasting 24 hours.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chairman, said: “In recent weeks I have heard from thousands of junior doctors across the country, and the resounding message is that they cannot and will not accept what the Government is trying to do.

“It now appears that in trying to push through these changes the Government failed to give proper consideration to the impact this contract could have on junior doctors. This is yet another example of the incompetence which the Government has demonstrated throughout its handling of this dispute.

“Imposing this contract will seriously undermine the ability of the NHS to recruit and retain junior doctors in areas of medicine with the most unsocial hours, where there are already staffing shortages. This will have a significant impact on areas such as emergency medicine, maternity care and paediatrics, to name but a few.”

The union has also announced plans to launch a judicial review into the government’s plans to impose a new contract on junior doctors.