JUNIOR doctors across the West Midlands have begun a second day of strike action in their dispute over new contracts.

Medics are on picket lines outside hospitals across the region and hundreds of routine procedures have been cancelled, although emergency cover will continue to be provided.

The walkouts are the latest chapter in an increasingly bitter dispute between the government and the British Medical Association (BMA).

The major sticking point in the dispute is about the reclassification of Saturday shifts and reductions of extra payments for anti-social hours.

The government argues the cuts to anti-social pay will be offset by higher basic salaries and doctors will also see a reduction in the number of hours they work.

The BMA rejects the govenment's position and says pay and conditions under the new deal would drive many of its members out of the NHS, which would result in dangerously low staffing levels.

Russells Hall Hospital has cancelled just under 200 outpatient appointments and procedures while at Sandwell Hospital around 300 appointments have been affected.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust says it is aiming to maintain as near to normal service as possible and has contacted patients whose appoinments have been affected.

The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch is yet to release any details about how many patients have been affected while Kidderminster Hospital has no junior doctors and is working as normal.

The strike action began at 8am today (Wednesday) and will last for 24 hours, patients who have been affected will be contacted to have new appointments arranged.