JUNIOR doctors are set to strike across Hampshire for the second time in a month as negotiations again stall on a controversial new contract.

A 24-hour walkout on Wednesday is expected to see some operations and outpatient clinics cancelled at Southampton General Hospital.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) has backed down from threats to cancel emergency cover, avoiding unprecedented disruption on the wards.

Doctors have warned that concessions from the government on their proposed deal are not enough to protect safe working hours.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday accused the BMA of “spreading misinformation” about the proposed deal.

Non-emergency clinicians are poised to strike from 8am on Wednesday for 24 hours – 15 longer than originally planned.

Dr Caroline Marshall, chief operating officer at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “To ensure our hospitals run as safely and as effectively as possible during the periods of strike action, we expect to cancel some outpatient clinics and non-urgent theatre lists to re-allocate clinical staff in other areas.”

Patients with cancelled appointments will be contacted by phone, she added.

Bosses at Winchester, Andover and Basingstoke hospitals are due to meet this morning to review whether clinics and operations can continue.

“If anything is going to be cancelled it’s going to be outpatients,” duty director Barrie Jones told the Daily Echo, “As we speak, the prediction is no cancellations.”

More than 500 doctors and supporters rallied in Southampton City Centre during the first 24-hour walkout, on January 13.

Junior doctor Cathy Paget, of the Wessex Industrial Action Committee, said: “We still feel that the contract is still not safe for patients and it’s definitely not fair for doctors. We have some major, fundamental concerns that have simply failed to be addressed.”

The union chose to keep emergency cover due to lack of notice which would have put patients at risk, said BMA representative Bala Karunakaran.

Harry Diamond, chairman of Healthwatch Southampton, said patients had been reassured by the low level of disruption last month, with 13 operations postponed and 130 clinics cancelled in the city.

“If the emergency cover had gone as they first threatened, I think that would have been a very serious situation,” he added.

“The hospital is doing their best to make sure appointments are not inconvenienced and we’re certainly pushing the hospital to make sure any patients who are inconvenienced on Wednesday get their re-appointments as soon as possible.”

It comes as Mr Hunt unveiled a £4.2 billion technology drive for the NHS which will allow patients to book services, order prescriptions online and speak to their doctor via videolink.

He acknowledged in an interview yesterday that work was needed to improve junior doctors’ morale but claimed the BMA’s approach the contract dispute had made medics feel “devalued”.