JUNIOR doctors in England will be balloted for industrial action over pay cuts and unpaid overtime, it was announced yesterday by the British Medical Association (BMA).

The landmark decision to ballot for action follows government plans to impose new “unsafe and unfair” terms and conditions on trainees’ contracts from August next year, the BMA junior doctors committee said.

Critics say the new contract involves pay cuts of up to 30 per cent, with overtime rates scrapped for working between 7am and 10pm on every day except Sunday.

Gynaecologist Dr Johann Malawana, the new leader of the committee, said the decision was as “a reflection of anger felt by the thousands of junior doctors who have told us that the government’s position is not acceptable.”

He added: “We’ve already seen reports of high numbers of doctors considering leaving the NHS to work abroad.

“These figures should serve as a serious wake-up call to the government that there is a real risk that junior doctors will speak with their feet.

“To lose a large swathe of doctors in the early stages of their careers would be a disaster for the NHS.”

Talks over the issue stalled last October. The committee said last month that it has not planned to return to negotiations.

The decision to ballot for industrial action is “disappointing,” a Department of Health spokesman said.

“We urge the BMA to reconsider this decision and come back to the table because there is a great deal to discuss about how we reward the profession,” he added.

Trainee doctors in Scotland and Wales will not be balloted because they won’t receive new contracts.