England's Junior Doctors Planning New Strikes

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iStock/Thinkstock(LONDON) — The fight between junior doctors in England and the government continues.

Junior doctors are planning a 24-hour walk-out next week and a 48-hour strike at the end of the month as both the British Medical Association and the government fail to come to an agreement over a new contract.

Last month, the BMA canceled three planned strikes in order to begin negotiations again with the government. According to BBC, hospitals canceled more than 4,000 routine operations and treatments ahead of one of the strikes, about 10 to 15 percent of all operations and procedures.

Despite trying to work with the government to come up with a deal, according to BBC BMA leader Dr. Mark Porter said the union has no choice but to strike “because the government’s proposals would be bad for patient care as well as junior doctors in the long-term…”

BBC reports the government is concerned over seven-day services, but the union believes it could mean less restrictions on longer shifts leading doctors to be over-worked.

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