Junior doctors start 96 hour walkout across Wales
It's the third walkout in recent months in an ongoing row over pay.
A fresh wave of strike action by Junior Doctors in Wales is starting this morning.
Around 3 thousand won't be back on wards until Friday morning in their ongoing row over pay.
The BMA union says wages have been cut by almost a third in real terms since 2009.
The Welsh Government says it doesn't have the money to make a higher offer after its 5% deal was rejected.
Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey, co-chairs of BMA Cymru Wales’ Junior Doctors Committee said: “It’s extremely sad and frustrating that we find ourselves here again, our third strike and our longest yet. We don’t want to be in this position but again, faced with inaction, we are left with no choice.
“We want to reiterate that the strikes can be called off at any time if the Welsh Government put forward a credible pay offer to form the basis of talks.
“Whilst we continue to be undervalued, and disregarded for our work in the health service our resolve to restore our pay remains unbroken, enough is enough.
“Junior doctors are starting their careers earning £13.65 an hour in Wales. Is that all they are worth? They are providing lifesaving care after training for years and are shouldering up to £100,000 of debt.
“We will continue our fight for fair pay for all doctors working in the NHS. It is no surprise that we are losing doctors as they search for better pay and conditions elsewhere.
Losing our doctors at a time when waiting lists are at record highs will mean patients suffering more than they are already.”