JUNIOR doctors belonging to the British Medical Association are urging the government to make a credible pay offer as they begin a three-day strike today in a major escalation of the bitter industrial dispute.

BMA junior doctors’ committee co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: “It is extremely disappointing to be in this position.

“It is now for the Health Secretary [Victoria Atkins] to show true leadership and leave behind the dogma that has been holding talks back —  she needs to be willing to talk to us regardless of whether strikes are scheduled.”