Junior doctors on the picket line in Shropshire remain determined to strike for pay demands

As members of the British Medical Association (BMA) entered the second day of their 72-hour strike on Thursday, industrial action in the NHS was blamed for postponing more than half a million appointments across the country.

But Dr Andrew Donnelly, who works in critical care at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and qualified in 2014, said waiting lists were going up long before the doctors' union began their series of strikes.

And he says something has to be done to stop junior doctors quitting the profession or emigrating to higher paid jobs in Australia or the lists will only continue rising.

"Waiting lists were going up anyway," said Dr Donnelly. "The only way to improve the situation is to make it a more attractive career.

"I know people who have left the profession and have left for Australia and New Zealand."

The action that is due to end at 7am on Saturday is the third set of strikes by junior doctors in England since the dispute flared last year.

There is no sign of the junior doctors flagging in their determination to fight their corner.

"We think the Government is deliberately delaying until the BMA has to ballot again to continue the action, hoping that the vote will not support continuing," said Dr Donnelly.

"They have made an offer of five per cent, a small increase from 3.5 per cent, but only after the Scottish Government made that offer.