BDA confirms junior dentists will participate in January strikes

The British Dental Association (BDA) has announced that junior hospital doctors will be joining in with the NHS strike action planned for next week.

This will be the first ever industrial action to involve hospital dentists and will take place from 08:00 GMT on January 12th to the same time the following day, with only emergency care to be offered between these hours.

A similar strike will run between the same hours on January 26th to January 28th, to be followed by a full withdrawal of labour from 08:00 to 17:00 on February 10th.

Industrial action had been planned by NHS staff in December, but was called off at the last minute after the government agreed to return to the negotiating table over planned contractual changes.

However, the government's subsequent failure to address concerns on safe working and unsocial hours has led to a confirmation that the strikes will proceed this month instead, with NHS trusts across England having been informed of the plans.

BDA chair Mick Armstrong said: "Industrial action is always a last resort, and one we sincerely hoped could have been avoided. We have been left with little choice but to take this step in the face of government intransigence."