Junior doctors' strike live: Historic walkout is 'not right', David Cameron says
It will be the first time in the NHS’s 68-year history emergency services and maternity units are affected
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- The strike is from 8am-5pm today and tomorrow
- Q&A: Which services are affected?
- Hunt admits it is likely to be his "last big job in politics"
- Poll: Most people support the walkout
- Doctors accused of trying to topple the government
- Exclusive: strike does not have the official backing of profession leaders
- Video: Dennis Skinner tells Hunt to wipe “that smirk off his face”
- David Cameron says strike is 'not right'
Doctors will today stage what could be the NHS’s most significant strike in its 68-year history, as Accident and Emergency and maternity units will be affected for the first time. It is expected that senior consultants will step in to staff the departments as their colleagues take strike action.
Doctors say the new contract will harm patient safety by incentivising unsafe shift rosters. The Government says it will help improve care at the weekends. The new contract is cost-neutral so it is not a case of doctors asking for more or less money overall, though there may be individual winners and losers from it.
A very large majority of junior doctors are likely to strike, with only a tiny number expected to defy the picket lines.
All polls suggest that the public support the junior doctors and blame the Government for the dispute. There is slightly reduced support for a strike which includes emergency care, but the public still supports doctors overall.
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