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| Last-minute talks over doctor strike | Last-minute talks over doctor strike |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Last-minute talks are taking place between doctors and government negotiators to avert Wednesday's strike amid suggestions a deal on the contract dispute was blocked by ministers. | Last-minute talks are taking place between doctors and government negotiators to avert Wednesday's strike amid suggestions a deal on the contract dispute was blocked by ministers. |
| Junior doctors in England will take part in their second 24-hour walk-out from 08:00. | Junior doctors in England will take part in their second 24-hour walk-out from 08:00. |
| Informal talks - not involving Acas conciliators- are taking place. | Informal talks - not involving Acas conciliators- are taking place. |
| It comes as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was quizzed by MPs about whether he blocked a possible deal. | It comes as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was quizzed by MPs about whether he blocked a possible deal. |
| The British Medical Association put forward a proposal in talks at Acas that would have seen doctors' basic pay rise by about half the 11% offered by ministers in return for Saturday not to be treated as a normal working day. | The British Medical Association put forward a proposal in talks at Acas that would have seen doctors' basic pay rise by about half the 11% offered by ministers in return for Saturday not to be treated as a normal working day. |
| The union argued it would have been cost neutral, meaning the government would not pay any more than the £5bn currently spent on junior doctor salaries. | |
| The offer was rejected and during a debate in the House of Commons, Labour MP Justin Madders asked Mr Hunt whether he had personally blocked an agreement. | The offer was rejected and during a debate in the House of Commons, Labour MP Justin Madders asked Mr Hunt whether he had personally blocked an agreement. |
| Mr Hunt did not directly answer the question, but said the BMA was the "only reason" a solution has not been found. | Mr Hunt did not directly answer the question, but said the BMA was the "only reason" a solution has not been found. |
| Sources close to the talks have told the BBC that the proposal was put to the government, but did not leave enough flexibility for rostering more doctors on at weekends - one of the main reasons the government wants to renegotiate the contract. | |
| Doctors maintain that the strike will cause minimal disruption to patients. | Doctors maintain that the strike will cause minimal disruption to patients. |
| In preparation for Wednesday, more than 2,800 routine operations, such as knee and hip replacements, have already been cancelled. | In preparation for Wednesday, more than 2,800 routine operations, such as knee and hip replacements, have already been cancelled. |
| Dr Anne Rainsberry, of NHS England, said: "The NHS is doing everything possible to minimise the impact of this regrettable strike which will delay care for thousands of patients at a time of year when service pressures across the health service are already at their highest. | Dr Anne Rainsberry, of NHS England, said: "The NHS is doing everything possible to minimise the impact of this regrettable strike which will delay care for thousands of patients at a time of year when service pressures across the health service are already at their highest. |
| "We will monitor the situation across the country to ensure plans are in place, and people are ready to respond to any significant increases in pressure in any region over the period of this strike." | "We will monitor the situation across the country to ensure plans are in place, and people are ready to respond to any significant increases in pressure in any region over the period of this strike." |
| During the first strike in January 4,000 operations had to be cancelled - about one in 10 of the total. | During the first strike in January 4,000 operations had to be cancelled - about one in 10 of the total. |
| What is the dispute about? | What is the dispute about? |
| The junior doctors row explained | The junior doctors row explained |
| What exactly do junior doctors do? | What exactly do junior doctors do? |
| How does your job compare? | How does your job compare? |
| The lessons of the 1975 doctors' strike | The lessons of the 1975 doctors' strike |
| Analysis: Why should we care? | |
| Have you been affected by the junior doctors' strike? Have you had an operation cancelled? Are you a junior doctor? Has your opinion of the strike or the deal changed? Share your stories and views with us HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk | |
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