London, United Kingdom : Junior doctors at English hospitals staged a third strike today in protest at proposed new conditions and pay rates for working unsociable hours.
Around 5,000 treatments have been postponed in the latest action by junior doctors, who were providing only emergency care during the 48-hour strike in the longest walkout so far.
It comes a day after talks with the British Medical Association, the country's trade union for doctor, broke down on Tuesday as the government plans to impose the new contracts in the summer.
But polling by IPSOS MORI suggested that most of the public blamed the government for the dispute with 65 percent of the 860 people approached for the BBC-commissioned survey supporting the strike.
Prime Minister David Cameron's centre-right government says the reforms are needed to fulfil his manifesto promise of a "seven-day NHS", with a consistent level of care provided at all times.
The striking doctors contend that rates are higher on weekends because those who are admitted tend to be emergency cases.
The next two strikes are planned for April.
"Ministers have made it clear they intend to impose a contract that is unfair on junior doctors and could undermine the delivery of patient care in the long term."
There are more than 50,000 junior doctors in England, making up a third of the medical workforce.
Around 5,000 treatments have been postponed in the latest action by junior doctors, who were providing only emergency care during the 48-hour strike in the longest walkout so far.
It comes a day after talks with the British Medical Association, the country's trade union for doctor, broke down on Tuesday as the government plans to impose the new contracts in the summer.
But polling by IPSOS MORI suggested that most of the public blamed the government for the dispute with 65 percent of the 860 people approached for the BBC-commissioned survey supporting the strike.
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Prime Minister David Cameron's centre-right government says the reforms are needed to fulfil his manifesto promise of a "seven-day NHS", with a consistent level of care provided at all times.
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The striking doctors contend that rates are higher on weekends because those who are admitted tend to be emergency cases.
The next two strikes are planned for April.
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"Ministers have made it clear they intend to impose a contract that is unfair on junior doctors and could undermine the delivery of patient care in the long term."
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There are more than 50,000 junior doctors in England, making up a third of the medical workforce.
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