JUNIOR doctors are striking today over their ongoing pay and working hours dispute with the Government.

They are providing only emergency care for 24 hours, and will be back to work as normal from 8am tomorrow.

Since 8am this morning juniors have been manning pickets outside the Royal Bournemouth (RBH) and Poole hospitals, speaking with patients and their families as they go in and out.

The Poole group is also holding a 'Meet the Doctors' event at the main entrance to the Dolphin Shopping Centre  from 12pm to discuss the issue with members of the public.

The nationwide strike is the second to take place in the dispute between doctors' union the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government.

At Bournemouth, BMA rep and junior doctor Joshua Gaon said: "These strikes are something we didn't ever anticipate happening, but it is the only option we have left.

"We have had even more support this time than for the last strike, and have had so many cups of tea, biscuits and doughnuts provided we will be sharing them with the staff on duty inside.

"It is very reassuring for us to have that support from the public, and from the consultants who are covering for us.

"We don't want to jeopardise patient safety, and that is why we are holding this strike. But we couldn't do it without the hospital's backing."

The Government plans to introduce a new contract with altered pay and working hours which the BMA claims will lead to doctors receiving less pay for doing more work, and potentially dangerous conditions in hospitals.

The major sticking point in the dispute is the issue of weekend pay and whether Saturdays should be classed as normal "plain" time or should attract a premium.

Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay for junior doctors.

An offer from the Government in January said doctors would receive time-and-a-half for any hours worked Monday to Sunday between 9pm and 7am, and time-and-a-third for any hours worked between 5pm and 10pm on Saturdays and 7am and 10pm on Sundays.

The BMA rejects the idea that Saturday is a normal working day. The Government has strongly suggested it will impose the new contract on junior doctors if agreement cannot be reached in the next few weeks.

"We don't want to be striking, we want to be inside treating patients," said Dr Gaon.

"The last strike was successful enough to get the Government back to the table to make some concessions.

"Their original proposal was ludicrous."

He said the proposed contract was likely to exacerbate the already severe staff shortages faced by the NHS, making the Government's plans for a 'seven day NHS' more difficult to achieve.

Both trusts have taken steps to prepare for the strike by rescheduling some planned procedures and operations, although those which don't involve junior doctors will take place as planned.

At RBH 35 operations were postponed, nine inpatient and 26 day case - while 169 outpatient appointments were delayed.

Richard Renaut, chief operating officer at RBH, said: "The industrial action by the junior doctors was planned so we had time to ensure that we had our emergency and inpatient services covered by consultant medical staff and other clinical staff.

"It did however mean that we have had to postpone a number of operations and outpatient appointments and we are sorry all those who have been affected and will do everything we can to ensure they will be booked in again as soon as possible.

"We are very pleased that junior doctors have been providing emergency cover during this industrial action and look forward to a fair settlement being agreed."

At Poole Hospital 12 operations and 86 outpatient appointments were postponed.

Medical director Robert Talbot said: "Currently the day of industrial action is having a minimal impact on our services.

"Our planned and measured approach has ensured that our patients remain safe at all times and that that we’ve been able to minimise any disruption."

Today's strike was originally to take the form of a full walkout, including emergency care, over a shorter time period, but the BMA has scaled this back after talks.

Two previous strikes in December and January were cancelled after progress was made in negotiations.