Junior doctors in England have voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action in protest of changes to their contracts the government intends to impose on them.
Some 98% of junior doctors voted in favour of a full strike, and 99.4% in favour of other industrial action just short of a full strike, with a 78% turnout.
The first mass walk-out will begin on 1 December, with two further dates proposed for further action later in the month.
British Medical Association (BMA) council chair Mark Porter said:
“We regret the inevitable disruption that this will cause but it is the Government’s adamant insistence on imposing a contract that is unsafe for patients in the future, and unfair for doctors now and in the future, that has brought us to this point.
“Patients are doctors’ first priority, which is why, even with such a resounding mandate, we are keen to avert the need for industrial action, which is why we have approached ACAS to offer conciliatory talks with the health secretary and NHS Employers to clarify the conflicting information coming from government over the past weeks.”
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said news of the industrial action was “very, very disappointing”, but rejected calls for talks to be held at conciliation service Acas.