Patients could face a summer of chaos after junior doctors admitted they may continue to strike in a row over pay.
Doctors leaders today told MailOnline they have not ruled out further industrial action from now until the summer, when the Government plans to impose a new contract on junior medics.
An estimated 19,000 operations have already been cancelled due to the walkouts, which began January, and thousands of patients have missed out on check-ups.
The news comes as junior doctors across England are on their second day of a third round of strike action in protest of the new contract.
More than 5,000 operations and procedures across England have been cancelled as the 48-hour stoppage enters its second day.
Hospitals are expected to be under more pressure than on Wednesday, with NHS England suggesting there may be more problems discharging patients owing to lower numbers of doctors.
Summer of chaos: Patients could face more cancelled operations and check ups as the BMA today told MailOnline it has not ruled out further strikes. Pictured are doctors at a picket line in London
Striking: Today junior doctors across England are on their second day of a third round of strike action. Pictured are NHS workers outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary at the start of a 48-hour walk out that began yesterday
Junior doctors are providing emergency care only until the end of the strike at 8am on Friday.
An Ipsos MORI poll for BBC News released on Wednesday evening revealed 65 per cent of the public supported the doctors' cause.
Two further 48-hour strikes are planned from 8am on April 6 and April 26.
When this round of strikes were announced the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors union, announced it is also launching a judicial review against the Government's contract.
It claims the Government failed to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) when introducing the new contract.
This is an assessment to ensure new rules do not unfairly discriminate or disadvantage anyone affected.
As part of the judicial review, a judge will review whether Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's failure to follow due process when introducing the new contract means it is unlawful.
The BMA said it does not expect the judicial review to stop the contract being imposed, and added it does not know when the review will take place or how long it is likely to take.
In fact, the union ignored the advice of its own lawyers, who advised 'there is nothing inherently unlawful about the proposed contract', the Telegraph reports.
Usually, the hearing for a judicial review can last from a few hours to several days, and the judge provides a written decision sometime - often weeks - afterwards.
On Wednesday, NHS England said that 44 per cent of junior doctors - out of a possible 26,000 working on a typical day - reported for duty on the day shift.
But it confirmed that the figure included doctors who had never intended to strike, such as those working in emergency care.
Mr Hunt announced he will impose the new contract on junior doctors - everyone up to consultant level - after months of talks with the BMA failed to reach a resolution.
Imposition: Jeremy Hunt announced earlier this year he will impose the new contract on junior doctors after months of talks with the BMA failed to reach a resolution
More strikes: Two further 48-hour strikes are planned from 8am on April 6 and April 26. Pictured are doctors outside St Thomas' Hospital, London
Figures from 228 organisations, of which 154 are acute hospital trusts, show that 2,077 inpatient procedures have been cancelled due to Wednesday and Thursday's industrial action alongside 3,187 day case operations and procedures, NHS England said.
Hundreds more routine clinics and appointments are likely to be affected.
Where possible, patients are being asked to contact their GP, seek advice from their local pharmacist, call 111 or check the NHS Choices website.
In an emergency, people should still call 999 or go to A&E.
The major sticking point has been over weekend pay and whether Saturdays should attract extra 'unsocial' payments.
Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay for junior doctors.
The Government wanted the Saturday day shift to be paid at a normal rate in return for a hike in basic pay.
Judicial review: The BMA has announced it is launching a judicial review in which a judge will assess if the Government followed due process when imposing the contract. Pictured, a junior doctor on strike outside Whipps Cross hospital in Waltham Forest, London
The BMA rejected this and urged Mr Hunt to reduce the offer of basic pay and instead have better premium rates on Saturdays.
The imposed contract, which is due to come into force in August, has an increase in basic salary of 13.5 per cent.
Under the new arrangements, Mr Hunt said no doctor working contracted hours would see a pay cut, while night shifts and long shifts would be limited.
But 7am to 5pm on Saturdays will be regarded as a normal working day.
A Department of Health spokesman said: 'Patients have so far seen more than 19,000 operations cancelled as a result of the BMA's irresponsible and unjustified industrial action.'
Johann Malawana, the BMA's junior doctor chairman, said: 'We deeply regret disruption to patients and have given trusts as much notice as possible to plan ahead, but the Government has left junior doctors with no choice.
'Ministers have made it clear they intend to impose a contract that is unfair on junior doctors and could undermine the delivery of patient care in the long term.'
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