The British Medical Association has announced that junior doctors in England will take further industrial action from September. 

Junior doctors will stage a full withdrawal of labour for five days, between the hours of 8am and 5pm from 12-16 September, with further dates to be confirmed. 

Commenting in response to the BMA council’s decision to approve plans for escalated industrial action by junior doctors that will result in further strikes in September, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said:

“Junior doctors play a vital role in the running of the NHS. We recognise their legitimate concerns on a range of issues and their right to negotiate any contractual changes. But this issue has gone on for too long now and further strike action will only bring more disruption to patients and front line services.

“In the end, no one benefits from needlessly prolonging an industrial dispute, least of all the patients the NHS serves. This matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible before further walkouts by junior doctors. Both sides will have to compromise and agree a settlement. We maintain that the contract agreed by BMA negotiators earlier this summer represented a sensible compromise.

“As with previous episodes of industrial action, NHS trusts will be doing all they can to minimise disruption to patients.”