BMA and government prepared to fight on contract imposition, BBC reports

Ministers and the British Medical Association (BMA) have both vowed that they will stand their ground regarding their views on the imposition of the junior doctor contract, the BBC has suggested.

The news comes as the latest junior doctor strikes have ended, without any major problems, despite walking out on both routine and emergency services.

Sources from the BMA have claimed the group is now considering its next move and has no plans to end the protest against the imposition of a new contract. The options being considered include a series of rolling strikes and refusal to complete important paperwork.

However, sources from the Department of Health have maintained that any further escalation in strike action will not stop the imposition of the contract. The source said: "The government is confident in its position and we've made that clear to the BMA."

The recent all-out strike saw 78 per cent of junior doctors fail to turn up to work, although NHS bosses assured that services had run smoothly during the stoppages, with consultants and nurses covering emergency care.

Anne Rainsberry of NHS England said: "We're not going to pretend the last two days have been easy, but the NHS has remained open to business for patients. The health service has coped admirably."