Hundreds of Nottinghamshire patients have had hospital appointments cancelled because of a strike by junior doctors.
The action began at 8am on Tuesday, after the latest talks between the Government and unions broke down.
In total, around 450 patients were affected across Notts.
Medics gathered outside both the QMC and Nottingham City Hospitals from early in the morning, holding placards and banners.
The row is over a planned new contract, with hours and pay the key sticking points.
The Conservative Government says the overhaul is needed to provide better round the clock care seven days a week, but the British Medical Association says the changes will unfairly cut pay and drive good medics away from the NHS.
Picture: Junior Doctors also gathered outside the City Hospital on Tuesday
Nicky Hill, director of HR for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs both the Queen’s Medical Centre and the City Hospital, said services had been able to cope.
She said: “the patients who were cancelled have stayed away which has clearly helped us. We will re-book patients as quickly as we possibly can.
“We recognise that it’s a disruption to people and we want to minimise that so we will be in touch with follow-up appointments as soon as possible.”
Around 380 people had appointments or surgery called off at both major Nottingham hospitals.
The trust which runs Kings Mill Hospital, near Mansfield, and Newark Hospital, said it had cancelled 71 appointments.
In a statement it said: “This comprises of 56 outpatient slots, 4 inpatient operations and 11 day case procedures. These will be rearranged as soon as possible.”
A previous planned strike was called off at the last minute in December after negotiations between both sides re-started, but another round of talks on Monday night failed to solve the dispute.
Labour is opposed to the Government plans, with Gedling MP Vernon Coaker previously saying: “They [doctors] are being asked to extra hours for less pay but above all they think this will put patient care at risk.”
The Government denies the changes will lead to lower pay.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the alternations will improve patient safety as some figures suggested current working patterns put patients at greater risk on different days of the week.
He said: “No change is not an option when we have clear evidence that lives are being lost.”
Emergency care is not expected to be affected by the strike, which has hit planned treatment.
