HCSA - the hospital union junior doctors in England urged members to return their ballots with a Yes vote as they announced new strike dates in their continuing dispute over pay.

Members will stage a full 72-hour walkout from December 20th-22nd.

The union intends to call further strikes in early January pending the outcome of a current re-ballot which closes on December 20th.

Should members vote Yes to strike action this will extend HCSA junior doctors’ strike mandate for a further six months from January.

Commenting, HCSA President Dr Naru Narayanan said:

“Junior doctors will again walk out this winter in what has become a marathon dispute which nobody wants.

“The government’s dogged refusal to acknowledge the impact of long-term pay decline is at the root of these strikes. It can’t just ignore the level of anger and despair fuelling them.

“We need a resolution which answers the central issue here - the impact of years of real-terms salary cuts on recruitment, morale and retention.

"In order to take further strike action in January it's essential that HCSA junior doctors in England vote in the current re-ballot and vote Yes."