Wales' junior doctors plan seven more days of strikes

The British Medical Association said no doctor wanted to strike, but it had been left with no choice

Junior doctors in Wales are to strike again in February and March after talks with the Welsh government failed to resolve a pay dispute.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had been left with no choice as doctors' pay had dropped by almost a third in 15 years.

The strikes will be for three days from 07:00 GMT on 21 February and for four days from 07:00 on 25 March.

The Welsh government said the decision was "disappointing" but it was not in a position to offer more money.

The Welsh government's pay offer of 5% was rejected by BMA members and no improved offers have been made, according to the union.

Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey, co-chairmen of BMA Cymru Wales' junior doctors committee said: "No doctor wants to strike, but whilst those in power fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation and the strength of feeling amongst our members we feel we have been left with no choice."

The Welsh junior doctors' committee made the decision to ballot members last year after being offered a below-inflation pay offer of 5% - lower than the amount recommended by an independent review body.

In January, planned operations and appointments were cancelled across all health boards as thousands of doctors walked out.

The next rounds of strike action could once again see more thousands of doctors, with up to 11 years of experience, walk-out of hospitals and GP surgeries across Wales.

One health board postponed 80% of operations during the junior doctors' strike in January

The Welsh government said: "While we wish to address their pay restoration ambitions, our offer is at the limits of the finances available to us and reflects the position reached with the other health unions for this year. 

"Without additional funding from the UK government, we are not in a position to currently offer any more. We will continue to press them to pass on the funding necessary for full and fair pay rises for public sector workers."