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| Hospitals braced for first all-out doctors' strike | Hospitals braced for first all-out doctors' strike |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hospitals in England are braced for the first all-out doctors' strike in the history of the NHS, on Tuesday. | Hospitals in England are braced for the first all-out doctors' strike in the history of the NHS, on Tuesday. |
| Junior doctors will walk out of both routine and emergency care from 08:00 to 17:00 BST in the contract row. | Junior doctors will walk out of both routine and emergency care from 08:00 to 17:00 BST in the contract row. |
| It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been hit in the long-running dispute. | It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been hit in the long-running dispute. |
| But NHS bosses believe plans put in place mean care will be safe, as things stand - but the situation will be monitored closely during the stoppage. | But NHS bosses believe plans put in place mean care will be safe, as things stand - but the situation will be monitored closely during the stoppage. |
| A second strike is due to take place on Wednesday, between the same hours. | A second strike is due to take place on Wednesday, between the same hours. |
| Hospitals can request that junior doctors return to work if needed, but as yet no NHS trust has raised the alarm. | Hospitals can request that junior doctors return to work if needed, but as yet no NHS trust has raised the alarm. |
| NHS England said "military level" contingency planning had been carried out to protect urgent and emergency care. | NHS England said "military level" contingency planning had been carried out to protect urgent and emergency care. |
| Steps taken include: | Steps taken include: |
| Patients are being urged to think carefully about how they use the NHS during the strike - a website has been set up giving patients details about what services are available where they live. | Patients are being urged to think carefully about how they use the NHS during the strike - a website has been set up giving patients details about what services are available where they live. |
| NHS England's Anne Rainsberry said: "Clearly industrial action of this type can put significant pressure on the NHS. We have been working with all hospitals to make sure they have plans in place to provide urgent and emergency care." | NHS England's Anne Rainsberry said: "Clearly industrial action of this type can put significant pressure on the NHS. We have been working with all hospitals to make sure they have plans in place to provide urgent and emergency care." |
| She said those plans were "robust" and hospitals were "confident" they could cope, but the situation would be kept under review. | She said those plans were "robust" and hospitals were "confident" they could cope, but the situation would be kept under review. |
| It comes as a new poll by Ipsos MORI for the BBC showed the majority of the public still backed junior doctors, although support was not as high since it became an all-out stoppage. | |
| Asked whether they supported junior doctors striking while not providing emergency cover, 57% said they would and 26% said they were opposed. | Asked whether they supported junior doctors striking while not providing emergency cover, 57% said they would and 26% said they were opposed. |
| The last time the public was asked was ahead of the 48-hour walkout in March, when they did provide emergency cover. Then 65% supported junior doctors. | |
| The poll of more than 800 adults in England also found a growing number of people blaming both sides for the impasse. Some 35% said the government and junior doctors were at fault. The majority - 54% - still blamed the government. | The poll of more than 800 adults in England also found a growing number of people blaming both sides for the impasse. Some 35% said the government and junior doctors were at fault. The majority - 54% - still blamed the government. |
| How the dispute reached stalemate | How the dispute reached stalemate |
| It comes after last minute pleas from medical leaders, patient groups and opposition MPs for both sides to get back round the negotiating table. | It comes after last minute pleas from medical leaders, patient groups and opposition MPs for both sides to get back round the negotiating table. |
| National Voices, a coalition of patient groups and charities, even offered to host talks. | National Voices, a coalition of patient groups and charities, even offered to host talks. |
| Chief executive Jeremy Taylor said: "It seems wrong that there is a big strike in the offing, more possible strikes to come, no strategy for ending this dispute, no negotiations going on. There is a stand off. | Chief executive Jeremy Taylor said: "It seems wrong that there is a big strike in the offing, more possible strikes to come, no strategy for ending this dispute, no negotiations going on. There is a stand off. |
| "Patients and the public are caught in the middle - and the harm is being felt by patients and their families." | "Patients and the public are caught in the middle - and the harm is being felt by patients and their families." |
| Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the strikes as "extreme" and warned they would be "deeply worrying for patients". | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the strikes as "extreme" and warned they would be "deeply worrying for patients". |
| But BMA junior doctor leader Dr Johann Malawana said if Mr Hunt had scrapped his plan to impose the contract the union would not have taken this action. | |
| "No doctor wants to take any action. They want to be in work, treating patients, but by refusing to get back around the negotiating table the government has left them with no choice but to take short-term action to protect patient care in the long term." | "No doctor wants to take any action. They want to be in work, treating patients, but by refusing to get back around the negotiating table the government has left them with no choice but to take short-term action to protect patient care in the long term." |
| Read more from Nick | Read more from Nick |
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