Junior doctors’ strike enters second day

The action comes after hospital bosses expressed concern for overnight cover for junior doctor shifts.

A rally in support of striking doctors in Trafalgar Square (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) (PA Wire)

Junior doctors have entered a second day of strike action as the bitter dispute over pay shows no sign of being resolved.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the timing of the strike was “regrettable” and he accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of putting patients at “greater risk” after not agreeing any national exemptions for strike action for some services, such as cancer care.

Elsewhere, the BMA released a statement amid reports that one of its junior doctors committee co-chairmen, Dr Robert Laurenson, was on holiday during the strikes.