Junior doctors back strikes with 98% of ballot

Updated

Thousands of junior doctors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in a bitter row with the Government.

Some 98% voted in favour of strikes, with 2% against and 11 spoilt ballot papers, the British Medical Association (BMA) said.

More than 37,000 doctors were balloted by the BMA, and 76% took part in the vote.

Doctors will strike over three days, providing emergency care only for 24 hours from 8am on December 1, followed by full walkouts from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and 16.

There is expected to be mass disruption to the NHS, with hospitals forced to cancel outpatient clinics and non-urgent operations.

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