Junior doctors will stage a 24-hour walk-out next Tuesday over ongoing contract disputes with the government.

LAST WEEK: Hospitals prepare for junior doctor strike in case government talks fail

Negotiators representing the doctors said not enough progress had been made on the issue of safeguarding as the number of working hours deemed “unsociable” is cut.

A two-day strike will follow on January 26, and a third day of action is planned for February if an agreement is not reached.

British Medical Association council chairman Dr Mark Porter said: “Throughout this process the BMA has been clear that it wants to reach agreement on a contract that is good for patients, junior doctors and the NHS.

“This is why, despite overwhelming support for industrial action, the BMA instead sought conciliation talks with the government.

“After weeks of further negotiations, it is clear that the government is still not taking junior doctors’ concerns seriously.

“Furthermore, the government has repeatedly dragged its feet throughout this process, initially rejecting our offer of talks and failing to make significant movement during negotiations.

“We sincerely regret the disruption that industrial action will cause, but junior doctors have been left with no option.”

Last month the union cancelled three strikes to re-enter talks over the proposed new contracts.

Under the contracts junior doctors in England will get an increase in their basic pay, but will have to work more weekends while guaranteed pay rises linked to time in the job will be axed and bonus pay for working unsociable hours will be curbed.

A spokesman for Kingston Hospital said last week, when negotiations were foundering: “We are putting plans in place to ensure we are able to deliver safe services for patients on this day.

“Our priority, as always, will be to ensure that all urgent and emergency services at our hospitals run as normal.

“We may need to cancel some non-urgent outpatient appointments and planned operations to ensure that we have enough doctors available to look after our emergency patients.

“These patients affected will be contacted and we will do all we can to rearrange appointments as soon as possible.”

Croydon University Hospital and Epsom and St Helier hospitals declined to comment last week when asked about their preparations.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Our absolute priority is patient safety and making sure that the NHS delivers high-quality care 7 days a week – and we know that’s what doctors want too, so it is extremely disappointing that the BMA have chosen to take industrial action which helps no-one.

“We had made good progress in talks, resolving 15 of the 16 issues put forward by the union – everything apart from weekend pay.

“We have now asked ACAS to reconvene talks in the hope the BMA will return to sensible negotiations.”

Some 98 per cent of junior doctors balloted by the BMA voted for industrial action.

Even though earlier strikes planned were averted at the last minute, the threat caused mass disruption to the NHS as thousands of patients had operations or appointments cancelled.