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Junior doctors are going on strike today for the fourth time this year.

The latest wave of industrial action comes as the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, steps up its protest against Tory Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Doctors will down tools for 48 hours from 8am.

This will include all BMA junior doctor members working in non-emergency roles.

But later this month the industrial action will be ramped up to include A&E staff too.

There will be two nine-hour strikes between 8am and 5pm on April 26 and 27 that will include doctors working in emergency care.

The strike action has led to disruption as hundreds of routine appointments and planned operations have been postponed.

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The first strike in January came as Mr Hunt threatened to introduce a new employment contract for junior doctors that cut weekend pay and, according to the BMA, removed the safeguards that stop NHS staff from being overworked.

But after industrial action in early February, Mr Hunt announced he was imposing the new contract despite doctors’ objections – at this point further walkouts were announced.

Dr Aaron Borbora, deputy chairman of the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee, previously told the ECHO on a picket line outside the Royal Liverpool Hospital: “I’m on strike to warn Mr Hunt to withdraw his imposed contract and return to meaningful negotiations.

“Imposing a contract that’s not been agreed by the profession is not in anyone’s interest and not the way to treat a hard-working, professional, valuable workforce.”