The head of the BMA's junior doctors' committee, Ellen McCourt, said the strike had been called because of serious concerns about staffing levels and the fairness of the new contract. It is hard to argue with this view, which is perhaps why the BMA will now come under pressure from many quarters - in particular, from junior doctors themselves. "I think the public mood is probably shifting a little bit further away from the doctors now because it is not clear why the strikes are continuing when a deal was done at an earlier point".
In a statement, the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges said that, while it acknowledged "genuine concerns" about the new contracts, it did not consider the proposed strike action to be "proportionate".
Two in ten (20%) support his reappointment, while 16% said they neither support nor oppose the move and 14% answered don't know.
They added: "Despite our efforts to work with the Secretary of State to resolve this dispute, the Government has failed to listen, leaving us with no option but to take more industrial action".
The government has said that a new contract is needed to deliver more seven-day services when the department of health's own documents show that the NHS does not have a plan as to how it will staff or fund further seven-day services.
BMA chairman Dr Mark Porter said: "I have to say it beggars belief that we can be accused of playing politics in this when the stated reason of the Government proceeding is that it was in their party manifesto".
Shropshire's main hospitals say some outpatient appointments and routine procedures will be postponed because of planned strikes by junior doctors.
'We recognise the frustration and alienation of doctors in training and indeed their right to take industrial action.
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He said around 100,000 operations could be cancelled as a result of the action.
King's Mill Hospital's executive medical director, Dr Andy Haynes said: "Patient safety and welfare are our priorities". If it agrees to do this, junior doctors will call off industrial action.
The long-running dispute escalated as junior doctors announced five days of strike action during which they have pledged a full walkout, unless the contract is dropped.
She added that doctors were concerned the contract would "fuel the workforce crisis" and discriminate against groups such as female and disabled doctors who are more likely to work part-time hours.
And he claimed that almost all Health Secretaries are unpopular -even the legendary NHS founder Nye Bevan.
Doctors are striking over the imposition of a new contract which they say is unfair. Today, the Health Secretary sought to deepen the divisions by warning that thousands of sick people would suffer pain and inconvenience because of the "totally irresponsible" walkout. "Jeremy Hunt should stop posturing about imposing a junior doctors' contract, scrap it, and re-enter talks".
"The Patients Association agree that seven-day service would be beneficial for patients, but it must be fully funded".
