Junior doctors have announced a new round of strikes after talks with the Government failed to resolve a row over pay.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says a 96-hour walkout will take place for shifts starting between 6.59am on Tuesday, April 11, and 6.59am on Saturday, April 15. This follows strikes held by junior doctors across England in March.
The BMA said Health Secretary Steve Barclay had failed to make any "credible offer", accusing the Government of not being serious about resolving the dispute. Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairs of the BMA junior doctor committee, said: "It is with disappointment and great frustration that we must announce this new industrial action.
"The Government has dragged its feet at every opportunity. It has not presented any credible offer and is refusing to accept that there is any case for pay restoration, describing our central ask as 'unrealistic' and 'unreasonable'. Even yesterday they continued to add new unacceptable pre-conditions to talks instead of getting on and trying to find a resolution.
"We therefore have no confidence that without further action these negotiations can be successful. This situation is entirely of the Government's own making.
"We want to spend our time looking after patients, not on strike, but with an NHS buckling under a workforce crisis, and four in 10 junior doctors looking to leave, we can't stand by while our pay is further eroded by inflation and an intransigent Government. We are not going to stop until we are paid what we are worth, and if ministers don't accept that when we tell them in person, we will have to tell them from the picket line."
A message to members on the BMA website said: "We are holding a 96-hour walk out of all junior doctors in England in order to achieve a full pay restoration. This is our second round of action.
"This means you should not attend any shifts starting after 6.59am on 11 April. You can then attend any shifts starting from 7am on the 15 April."
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