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| Junior doctors' strike: All-out stoppage begins | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first all-out doctors' strike in the NHS's history has begun in England. | The first all-out doctors' strike in the NHS's history has begun in England. |
| Thousands of junior doctors walked out of both routine and emergency care at 08:00 BST in protest at the imposition of a new contract from the summer. | Thousands of junior doctors walked out of both routine and emergency care at 08:00 BST in protest at the imposition of a new contract from the summer. |
| 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. |
| NHS bosses believe plans are in place to ensure safety, but say the situation will be monitored closely during the stoppage which ends at 17:00 BST. | NHS bosses believe plans are in place to ensure safety, but say the situation will be monitored closely during the stoppage which ends at 17:00 BST. |
| Further all-out strike action is due to take place on Wednesday, between the same hours. | Further all-out strike action 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. | 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 emergency cover was maintained. Then 65% supported junior doctors. | The last time the public was asked was ahead of the 48-hour walkout in March, when emergency cover was maintained. 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. |
| The dispute is about working hours and pay, but a key sticking point is about payments for working on Saturdays. | The dispute is about working hours and pay, but a key sticking point is about payments for working on Saturdays. |
| Talks between the government and British Medical Association (BMA) broke down in January, prompting the government to announce in February that it would be imposing its contract in the summer. | Talks between the government and British Medical Association (BMA) broke down in January, prompting the government to announce in February that it would be imposing its contract in the summer. |
| Currently junior doctors are paid more for working unsocial hours at night or at the weekend, but under the imposed new contract the Saturday day shift will be paid at a normal rate in return for a rise in basic pay. | Currently junior doctors are paid more for working unsocial hours at night or at the weekend, but under the imposed new contract the Saturday day shift will be paid at a normal rate in return for a rise in basic pay. |
| How the dispute reached stalemate | How the dispute reached stalemate |
| The strike comes after last-minute pleas from medical leaders, patient groups and opposition MPs for both sides to get back round the negotiating table. | The strike 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 it as a "very, very bleak day" for the NHS, but said no union had the right to stop a government trying to act on a manifesto promise. | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described it as a "very, very bleak day" for the NHS, but said no union had the right to stop a government trying to act on a manifesto promise. |
| Ahead of the strike, government sources had briefed that they could not give in as the row had become political with the BMA trying to topple the government and other unions watching the dispute "like hawks". | Ahead of the strike, government sources had briefed that they could not give in as the row had become political with the BMA trying to topple the government and other unions watching the dispute "like hawks". |
| Mr Hunt added: "The reason this has happened is because the government has been unable to negotiate sensibly and reasonably with the BMA." | Mr Hunt added: "The reason this has happened is because the government has been unable to negotiate sensibly and reasonably with the BMA." |
| 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. | 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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| Are you a patient who will have treatment disrupted by today's strike? Are you a junior doctor? Are you planning to take part in the strike? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you a patient who will have treatment disrupted by today's strike? Are you a junior doctor? Are you planning to take part in the strike? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or you can comment here: | Or you can comment here: |