Jeremy Hunt has launched an urgent inquiry into the level of junior doctors’ morale and welfare as large numbers threaten to quit the profession over being forced to accept a new contract.

The Health Secretary appointed Dame Sue Bailey of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to lead the review.

Mr Hunt has been widely criticised by junior doctors, who voted to strike over his new proposed contract by 98 per cent.

The deal, which would change regulations around working anti-social hours, has been hugely controversial. The Government says it will improve patient care at the weekends but doctors say it will incentivise unsafe rostering and leave doctors who work the longest hours worse off.

An unweighted survey of doctors reported by the Independent found that 90 per cent would consider quitting were the contract unilaterally imposed.

Mr Hunt today said he would impose the contract unilaterally.

The Government’s chief negotiator Sir David Dalton recommended the launch of the review, which comes on the same day as Mr Hunt announced he would force doctors to accept the deal.

The Royal College of GPs warned today that the move would “inevitably damage morale across the NHS”.

In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK 20,000 Junior Doctors marched through central London in protest at the new contract changes the government is trying to impose which they say will be unfair and unsafe In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors protest in London In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK 4 year old Cassius takes part in a demonstration in Westminster, in support of junior doctors over changes to NHS contracts, London In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Protest over proposed changes to junior doctors' contracts, Leeds In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors and NHS staff protesting against the health service cuts and the proposed contract changes offered by the government outside Parliament In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors and NHS staff protesting against the health service cuts and the proposed contract changes offered by the government outside Parliament In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Over 5000 junior doctors rallied in Waterloo place, before marching through Whitehall and onto Parliament Square, in opposition to Jeremy Hunt's new working conditions for doctors In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Demonstrators listen to speeches in Waterloo Place during the 'Let's Save the NHS' rally and protest march by junior doctors In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK Junior doctors marched in London to highlight their plight In pictures: Junior doctors protests in UK A protester at a demonstration in support of junior doctors in London

“The last few months have been incredibly tough for junior doctors, and have led to the lowest morale across our profession in a generation,” said Dr Maureen Baker.

“Imposing a contract, in its current form, is asking junior doctors – the future of our NHS – to work under conditions in which they neither feel valued nor able to deliver safe patient care.”

Junior Doctors Contract

Labour’s shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said earlier this week that Mr Hunt had caused a “fundamental breakdown of trust” between the profession and Government.

Johann Malawana, chair of the junior doctors committee at the British Medical Association, warned that he Government had “totally alienated a generation of junior doctors”.