Jeremy Hunt has admitted that the first all-out junior doctors strike in the history of the NHS is a “bleak day”, but reiterated that the government would not back down over the imposition of the new contract.

Junior doctors walked out of all routine and emergency care units between 08:00 and 17:00 BST, with another all-out strike is planned for Wednesday.

Figures released by NHS England showed 78% of junior doctors due in work did not turn up to work today, but hospital bosses said that operations had generally run smoothly, with more senior doctors providing cover during the strike.

Despite fierce criticism from the public and complaints from doctors of all ranks that the new contract will have a negative impact on patient safety, the government continues to push for the imposition of the untested new contract.

In the last week, health secretary Jeremy Hunt has refused to re-enter negotiations with the British Medical Association (BMA) over the contract, or to introduce the contract slowly in a pilot area at first, and avoid the strikes.

Instead, the government has tried to frame the strikes as politically motivated, and Hunt has accused the BMA of attempting to topple the government – a claim quickly dismissed by the union as ridiculous.