The first all-out doctors' strike in the National Health Service (NHS) 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, the (BBC) reported. 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. Further all-out strike action is due to take place on Wednesday, between the same hours. 

    NHS England said "military level" contingency planning had been carried out to protect urgent and emergency care. The steps taken include: the postponement of nearly 13,000 routine operations and more than 100,000 appointments to free up staff, the cancellation of holidays and study leave, and redeployment of consultants, middle-grade doctors and nurses into emergency care.

    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. 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. 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.

    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. British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the strikes as "extreme" and warned they would be "deeply worrying for patients".

Source: QNA