Summary

  • Fourth strike involving junior doctors in England began at 08:00 BST on Wednesday and lasts 48 hours

  • Doctors are providing emergency cover, but 5,000 operations and procedures are postponed

  • Comes amid long-running dispute with government over planned changes to pay and conditions

  • All-out stoppages planned for 08:00 to 17:00 BST on both 26 and 27 April

Live Reporting

Lauren Turner, James Gallagher and Dominic Howell

  1. 'Thank you for all you have done and all you will do for me'

    A woman who was not well enough to stand with the junior doctors wrote this letter for them - as well as providing biscuits and a donation. 

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  2. 'Junior doctors are standing up for themselves'

    Isabel Barnard, who has a rare liver disease, had an appointment for a liver biopsy cancelled yesterday. 

    She said "the whole thing is up in the air" and that she has "no idea what's going on". 

    This operation was supposed to be vital in finding out more about my situation for further treatment. However, I generally support the strike. Junior doctors are standing up for themselves. It's not the people working at the NHS who are causing the problems.

    Isabel Barnard

  3. Outpatient clinic delayed due to strike

    A patient at an outpatients' clinic at a west London hospital sent this picture of a sign in the waiting room. 

    A sign reading: "Due to Junior Dr's strike, the clinic is delayed, Our apologies, thank you'

  4. Watch: Famous faces on the picket line

    Green Wing cast join junior doctors picket line

    There were some famous faces on one picket line yesterday, as actors from medical comedy Green Wing stood alongside junior doctors.

  5. 'Junior doctors need to get real'

    While there has been support for the junior doctors on social media, others do not agree with the strike.

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  6. Striking doctors 'are losing general public's support'

    Gill Shaw contacted us to say that her mother's urgent heart operation had been cancelled yesterday. 

    Her mother had initially gone to hospital last Thursday and been told she needed an operation. 

    The doctors described the need for this operation as urgent to me since she could deteriorate even further. She is already restricted by her movements, for example she can't walk up-stairs for being out of breath. The stress caused by delaying an urgent operation is not acceptable. I think the junior doctors should reconsider what they are doing. I've never gone on strike my whole life - how does striking really help? I think this strike has become about many issues that doctors complain about, not only new contracts. And now they are losing the general public's support.

    Gill Shaw

  7. Get involved

    We'd like to hear your views on the second day of the junior doctors' strike. 

    To get in touch, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.  

  8. Placards, drizzle and cakes - more images from the walkout

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  9. 'Knock-on effect' of strike

    Nick Triggle
    Health Correspondent

    NHS England has warned the second day of the strike is likely to prove more difficult. 

    The concern is that without junior doctors there, hospitals may experience problems discharging patients - they play a vital role in chasing and checking test results and making the preparations for release from hospital. 

    Delays discharging patients have a knock-on effect, meaning there are not the beds available for new patients coming in. 

    And the whole hospital system then slows down.

  10. What is the row all about?

    A doctors' coatScience Photo Library

    Junior doctors' leaders are objecting to the prospect of a new contract in England. 

    The government has described the current contract arrangements as "outdated" and "unfair", pointing out they were introduced in the 1990s - but unions say it is the new contract that is unfair and it will "exacerbate the staffing crisis".  

    There are 55,000 junior doctors in England - a third of the medical workforce. 

    The term junior doctor itself is somewhat misleading however, as it covers medics who have just graduated from medical school through to those who have more than a decade of experience on the NHS front line.

    We have an in-depth piece on what the row is all about.   

  11. Pictures from the picket line

    Junior doctors across England are returning to the picket line this morning - many have tweeted images of the walkout. 

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  12. No comment from Jeremy Hunt

    Jeremy Hunt

    There were no interviews from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday - and he hasn't commented this morning either as he left his home on his bike.

    Asked how many more strikes he thought there would be, Mr Hunt replied: "Sorry not giving any comments."

  13. NHS England advice to patients

    NHS England has reminded patients of information that may be useful as the second day of the strike gets under way.

    The body said in a statement that it will "continue to make sure everything possible is being done to ensure safe emergency care is being provided and to minimise the impact of the action".  

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    We also have a full guide on what patients need to know. 

  14. Recap: What has happened so far

    • Junior doctors in England started the 48-hour walkout at 08:00 BST on Wednesday
    • More than 5,000 operations and procedures have been postponed as a result  
    • It is the fourth strike in their long-running dispute over a new contract
    • NHS England said 46% of junior doctors turned up to work on Wednesday
    • NHS England said it had made plans to deal with a "difficult" second day of the strike
    • Emergencies are being dealt with - but daytime strikes with no emergency care are planned on 26 and 27 April

  15. NHS braced for 'difficult' strike day

    NHS England says plans have been made to deal with a "difficult" second day of the strike.

    Junior doctor on strikePA

  16. 'Young doctors treated badly'

    Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

    My total knee replacement operation is looking likely to cancelled on the 26th April. I believe that this government is to blame. As they are not affected by the strikes. They probably don't even use our NHS and have private health. I am disgusted that they would treat the young doctors so badly.

    Michelle Dwyer, Essex

  17. 'Support for strikes waning'

    Telegraph front pageTelegraph

    Among coverage in Thursday's papers, the Telegraph reports that support for the series of strikes appears to be waning.

    "Almost half of medics decided to work yesterday instead of standing on the picket line," says the Telegraph. "The latest figures show a downward trend in the number of doctors prepared to strike, while it has emerged that the number of those withholding their labour has fallen at every walkout since January. NHS figures showed that 46% turned up for work yesterday."

  18. 'I will stay in the profession and keep fighting'

    Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

    As a junior doctor myself the fact that we have been left with no option but to strike again has left me in tears today. I am so upset and disheartened that our concerns about patient safety are not being listened to.

    My new contract says that, as a woman, the contract will disproportionately disadvantage me and I am left asking myself why I didn't use my perfect grades to go into banking? At least then the government would value me. 

    I know the reason I will never consider this is that I genuinely enjoy caring for my patients and feeling like I made a difference for them in their illness. This is the reason I will stay in the profession and also the reason I will keep fighting, to make a difference to my patients care and safety for the better.

    'Disheartened junior doctor'

  19. Get Involved

    Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

    As a patient, and as a mother of a doctor, I heartily support the junior doctors' desperate stand to stem the erosion of the NHS. I find it deeply regrettable that thousands of patients are still facing disruption because of this government's disdain for those who have sacrificed a great deal to care for patients.

    Patricia White, Surrey

  20. Green Wing stars - 'Hunt has completely botched this'

    Green Wing cast join junior doctors picket line

    Stars of Channel 4 sitcom Green Wing, Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt, joined doctors on the picket line at Northwick Park Hospital in north-west London, where the medical comedy series was filmed. 

    Mangan said he had watched the negotiations be "completely botched" by Jeremy Hunt.

    He said he realised during filming that "the NHS is run on goodwill", adding: "In order to provide a fair NHS and ask people to work longer hours, you have to treat them fairly, it's not rocket science." 

    The trio were joined by Pippa Haywood and Oliver Chris, who also appeared in the award-winning series.