Halt strikes for better pay offer, doctors told

STRIKING doctors have been urged to "step back" from next week's walkouts so pay talks can take place

- Hanna Geissler

Downing Street told union bosses to stop putting patients at risk and insisted discussions would not be held unless the planned disruption planned was called off.

Thousands of junior doctors are set to walk out from all services, including A&E, from 7am on Thursday, July 13 until 7am on Tuesday, July 18.

It is believed to be the longest strike of its kind in NHS history.

Consultants will then cut their service provision to Christmas Day levels on Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21.

Almost 650,000 appointments and operations have been postponed due to the waves of industrial action since December.

Conciliation

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "We obviously remain open to talks and continue to call on the junior doctors to step back from such a highly disruptive strike action, which will put patient safety at risk.