Junior doctors' strike IN VIDEO and PICTURES: Hundreds of operations cancelled in first all-out protest

All junior doctors will be called out on strike by the British Medical Association between 8am and 5pm today and tomorrow as the row over Jeremy Hunt's decision to impose a new contract rumbles on.

• LIVE: More on the strike

Emergency care is withdrawn this time, meaning hospitals will have to draft in staff from other departments.

This will be the first time in the NHS's 68-year history that emergency care has been included in industrial action.

All Black Country and Staffordshire health boards are urging the public to come to A&E for 'the most serious health needs'.

The new contracts will see doctors working Saturdays as a normal working day, losing pay for unsociable hours. It will also see the currently guaranteed pay increases linked to time in the job scrapped.

University Hospitals of North Midlands has been forced to cancel 792 out-patient appointments over the next two days. Mr Robert Courteney-Harris, the hospital's chief executive, said: "Anyone who is scheduled to have an operation or an outpatient appointment should still attend unless they are contacted in advance.

"However, it is anticipated that our emergency services will be busier than usual. Essential care will be provided by senior staff, but the public can make a real difference in helping the NHS cope by choosing the right service for their needs and attending A&E only in genuine emergencies.

"Where it is not an emergency, I would like to reiterate the message that there are much more suitable and convenient alternatives to A&E."

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has cancelled more procedures than any other trust in the area. The last 24-hour strike forced them to cancel 370 outpatient procedures but that has risen to 1172 this time.

Gwen Nuttall, chief operations officer at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: "Consultant cover has been arranged to provide support to the emergency portals and to ensure the impact on elective surgery is minimal.

"This is the first time in the history of the NHS that industrial action on this scale has taken place and will increase pressures on our staff.

"We do have contingency plans in place and will strive, as always, to provide the high quality, safe care our patients expect and deserve."

David Loughton, chief executive of the Trust said that even if the strike was cancelled last minute, there would be no chance of re-instating the appointments at their previous booked times.

"It is an impossibility.

"Just to state the blindingly obvious, even if the strike is called off, there is no way we could re-instate these appointments.

Lee Barron, a spokesperson for Midlands TUC said: "We are supporting junior doctors who would rather be around the negotiating table today than be on strike, and that is what we are calling on Jeremy Hunt to do. Negotiation is how you resolve industrial disputes."

The news follows a recent effort by the Trust to encourage more GPs in Wolverhampton to offer their support to staff still working while the strike takes place.

Steven Marshall, of Wolverhampton CCG, said: "I wrote to all the GPs in Wolverhampton asking if they could provide support during the strike, which we hope will come to fruition."

Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust has seen an enormous increase in rearranged outpatient appointments compared to the last strike. This time 943 people will have their appointments rearranged, increasing 234.4 per cent from 282 last time.

Paula Clarke, chief executive of the trust has said women in labour will not be affected. She said: "Women who are in labour during the strike period will see no change to their care and will give birth as usual, whether in hospital on our delivery suite or Midwifery-led Unit, or at home if they have chosen a home birth.

"Several theatre cases and some outpatient appointments have been rearranged to ensure senior clinicians can provide ward-based cover. Patients affected have been contacted individually if changes have been made to their appointments.

"It is very important for patients to attend their appointment as normal unless they have been contacted."

Under the proposed new contract, 7am to 5pm on Saturdays will be regarded as a normal working day. Doctors working one in four or more Saturdays will receive a pay premium of 30 per cent.