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Around 2,000 junior doctors in Merseyside are expected to begin their second 24-hour strike on Wednesday morning.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are striking over Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s attempts to introduce a new contract of employment for junior doctors.

Here, we explain when the strike begins and ends, why doctors are taking industrial action for the second time in the space of a month and what the impact will be for patients.

When are the junior doctors going on strike?

Junior doctors will walk out from 8am on Wednesday until 8am on Thursday.

The industrial action was initially meant to include every junior doctor who is a member of the BMA, but this was changed by the union so those working in emergency roles – such as A&E and maternity care – will now be in work.

Will the junior doctors go on strike again after this week?

(Image: James Maloney)

There is no further planned industrial action by the BMA.

The junior doctors were meant to go on strike in December but this was called off at the 11th hour to allow negotiations to continue.

Without a solution, the junior doctors held a 24-hour strike on January 12.

A 48-hour walkout from January 26 to 28 was called off to allow conciliation service Acas to get involved, but the dispute remains unresolved so this week’s strike will go ahead.

How will hospitals cope without junior doctors?

(Image: James Maloney)

Consultants, nurses and other medical staff will help cover the shortfall while the strike action takes place.

But ministers warn there will be cancelled or delayed operations as a result of the walkout.

Will my hospital appointment still go ahead?

(Image: James Maloney)

Hospitals across the country have been forced to cancel planned surgery and non-emergency appointments because there won’t be sufficient staff for these to go ahead.

Patients whose appointments and operations have been cancelled should have been contacted already, but if you’re unsure then it is best to check with your hospital.

Will A&E still be open?

(Image: James Maloney)

Yes, A&E care will be provided throughout the strike period. But services may be more stretched than usual and patients are asked to consider their options before going to A&E.

Why are the junior doctors going on strike?

(Image: James Maloney)

The dispute is over a proposed new contract of employment for junior doctors.

The new contract was first mooted in 2012 but talks between the BMA and the Government broke down last year.

The row centres around how much junior doctors should be paid for working weekends.

Mr Hunt wants Saturdays to become part of junior doctors’ normal working hours – meaning they would be paid less for these shifts.

But the BMA disagrees and says the proposed new contract for junior doctors’ could put patients at risk in the hands of over-worked and tired staff because, the union argues, limits on excessive working hours are being lifted.

The Government offered an 11% basic pay rise to all junior doctors before the strike ballot papers were issued in a bid to stop the industrial action.

What has the Government done to try to avoid this?

(Image: Colin Lane)

The Government called in respected NHS manager Sir David Dalton, chief executive of the Salford Royal Hospital, to negotiate with the BMA on its behalf.

In a letter to the Health Secretary earlier this month, Sir David claimed “substantial progress” had been made on a large number of issues, but he said Saturday pay remained a major sticking point.

He wrote: “Should the BMA confirm that they will not negotiate and compromise on weekday and weekend plain time/unsocial hours then I will have to conclude that there is no opportunity for a negotiated settlement.”

In an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show at the weekend, Mr Hunt claimed the BMA had been “totally irresponsible”, while the union accused him of “shambolic mishandling”.

Who are the junior doctors?

(Image: James Maloney)

The phrase ‘junior doctor’ is used to describe any doctor below GP or consultant-level.

It includes staff who are fresh out of medical school and those with decades of experience behind them who conduct surgery and make life-and-death-decisions.

The starting salary for a junior doctor is currently just under £23,000 a year, but those at the top end of the scale can earn in excess of £70,000.