JUNIOR doctors have voted to reject a controversial new government contract that had been given provisional agreement by union bosses.
The results of the ballot by British Medical Association members were revealed today and show 58 per cent had opted to throw out the terms of the contract against 42 per cent who voted to accept it.
The turnout was 68 per cent.
The latest vote follows six strikes by hospital clinicians working below consultant level - including those at Furness General Hospital, in Barrow - over concerns the new contract was unfair and could force doctors to work unsafe hours.
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Lengthy talks were held between government health secretary Jeremy Hunt and BMA leaders in May which resulted in the union urging its members to accept the new agreement.
Dr Johann Malawana, the junior doctors lead for the BMA, has now resigned over the issue.
In a letter to members, Dr Malawana said: "I only hope that the next government realises that this vote is a demonstration of just how appalling frontline staff have been treated and undermined."
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