The row over a new contract for juniordoctorsin the UK escalated today as they announced three further strikes against the government's decision to unilaterally impose the changes.
The British Medical Association (BMA) also said it plans to launch judicial review proceedings in court over the imposition of what are described as unfair changes to weekend pay for doctors.
The three strikes on March 9 and April 6 and 26 will each last 48 hours with only emergency cover being provided.
"The government must put patients before politics, get back around the table and find a negotiated solution to this dispute," said BMA junior doctor committee chair Dr Johann Malawana.
Juniordoctorshave held two 24-hour strikes over the issue this year, the last one concluding earlier this month.
The new wave of strikes raises the prospect of up to 20,000 operations being cancelled as a result of the industrial action, which will see junior doctors withdraw all but emergency care for six days.
The main sticking point remains payments for working on weekends, referred to as anti-social hours, but the government argues that the current arrangements are outdated and changes are needed to improve standards of medical care at the weekend.
Juniordoctors,aterm covering nearly 50,000 medical professionals in the UK who are fresh out of medical school as well as those with more experience behind them, have warned that the new contract will affect patient safety by encouraging unsafe shift patterns and also financially hit doctors who work the longest hours.
The BMA wants all day Saturday to be paid at 50 per cent above the basic rate but the government is willing to offer extra pay only from 5 pm onwards.
