BASINGSTOKE hospital aims to run its services with minimal disruption tomorrow, despite the planned 24-hour junior doctors’ strike.

The strike comes after negotiations over safer working contracts for junior doctors once again faltered between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

After the original strike action on January 12, it seemed negotiations were in an advanced stage, but an agreement has still not been reached and the Conservative MP said the doctors’ union had refused to sit down and talk about ways to improve patient care.

This has led to junior doctors in Basingstoke to once again join their colleagues across the country and go on strike for 24-hours, although they will continue to provide emergency care, despite initial plans for a full strike.

Despite the planned action, officials at Basingstoke hospital said they aim to run services with as little disruption as possible.

Chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mary Edwards said: “We have planned ahead to minimise disruption to our services and to ensure our patients are safe and well cared for.

“Patients whose appointment is affected by the strike have been contacted and most of these appointments have been rearranged within the next two weeks.

“All patients who have not been contacted by the hospital should still attend their appointment.”

The debate, which centres on pay and weekend working hours, has bene going on since 2014, with terms yet to be agreed.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said their message has been clear and that the Government is putting politics before reason.

He said: “No doctor wants to take industrial action, and our door has always been open to talks.

“Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract.

“If the Government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff and the extra investment needed to deliver it.”

The strike will start at 8am tomorrow, with only emergency care being provided.