Junior doctors have are set to hold three more strikes in March and April protesting the government's decision to impose a new contract in England.

The move was announced today by the British Medical Association just two weeks after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the changes would be forced on junior doctors from August.

The BMA is also launching a judicial review as it says Mr Hunt failed to undertake an EIA (equality impact assessment) prior to the decision to force new terms and conditions on junior doctors.

Dates for UK-wide strikes have been set as follows:

  • 8am on Wednesday, March 9 to 8am on Friday, March 11
  • 8am on Wednesday, April 6 to 8am on Friday, April 8
  • 8am on Tuesday, April 26 to 8am on Thursday, April 28

BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana said: "The Government can avert this action by re-entering talks with the BMA and addressing rather than simply ignoring the outstanding issues and concerns junior doctors have.

"If it pushes ahead with plans to impose a contract that junior doctors have resoundingly rejected, we will be left with no option but to take this action."

Dr Karthik Darma, who works in emergency care at the county's A&E departments, said: "I don't think anyone wants to be on strike but I do support it.

"Especially following the imposition of a contract there has been a lot of favourable public support. It's a unilateral contract for 55,000 people up and down the country.

"Most of my colleagues have said they are considering leaving. I'm in my second year after graduating, so I need to start applying for training posts. Half of my year haven't applied and the other half are debating whether or not to take up the post.

"This is the lowest year for applications we have had to date. It's just going to make it worse."