PM Pleads With Doctors Over 'Damaging' Strike

The 24-hour strike in England, planned to start at 8am, comes after the Government's "continued failure to address junior doctors' concerns", according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

During the strike, junior doctors will only give emergency care.

David Cameron said there was still time "at the late stage" to get back around a table and avoid the walkout.

"This strike is not necessary, it will be damaging," he said.

"We are doing everything we can to mitigate its effects but you can't have a strike on this scale in our NHS without their being some real difficulties for patients and potentially worse."

NHS England says 1,425 in-patient operations were being cancelled and 2,535 out-patients procedures.

Mr Cameron, speaking in north London, said the strike was not justified as "15 of the 16 points raised by the BMA have now been settled by NHS employers".

He said claims that some doctors would see their pay cut by 30% under new contracts "simply was not true".

"Look specifically at the fact that anyone working legal hours will not have their pay cut and indeed 75% of junior doctors will see a pay increase from the measures being put on the table, which include an 11% increase in basic pay," said the Prime Minister.

"It is important to remember why this has all come about - not just the Government but the NHS - indeed even the BMA themselves - say how important it is to build a seven-day NHS to make sure that services are as good at the weekend as they are during the week, which is why this contract is necessary."

Despite the 11% rise under the new offer, there would be cuts to the times doctors could claim extra pay for working unsocial hours.

Currently, they can be paid extra for working between 7pm and 7am during the week and all of the weekend.

But under the proposals, the higher rate of pay would kick in later - from 10pm until 7am during the week and from 7pm on Saturday evenings.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said just 1% of junior doctors would lose pay and that those doctors already work too many hours.

Strikes scheduled for December were called off to allow for more talks, but the BMA says another strike - for 48 hours - is planned for 26 January if progress is not made.