JUNIOR doctors in England will strike for nine days over Christmas and New Year in an ongoing row over pay.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said the government had failed to make a credible offer to end the long-running wage dispute.
Negotiations have been rumbling on for five weeks but the deadline has now passed.
The BMA’s junior doctors committee unanimously voted for further walkouts in December and January.
These will run from 7am on December 20 to the same time on December 23, and again from 7am on January 3 to 7am on January 9.
They coincide with one the busiest times of year for the NHS.
Co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: “We have been clear from the outset of these talks that we needed to move at pace and if we did not have a credible offer, we would be forced to call strikes.
“After five weeks of intense talks, the government was unable to present a credible offer on pay by the deadline.
“Instead, we were offered an additional three per cent, unevenly spread across doctors’ grades, which would still amount to pay cuts for many doctors this year.
“It is clear the Government is still not prepared to address the real-terms pay cut doctors have experienced since 2008.
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“Without enough progress by the deadline, we have no choice but to take action that demonstrates doctors are as determined as ever in reversing their pay cuts.”
They added that they are “ready and willing” to speak to officials again to “avoid the need for these strikes”.
“If a credible offer can be presented the day before, or even during any action, these strikes can be cancelled,” they said.
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Alice Fuller
