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Junior doctors in Wales are set to go on strike again amid calls for the Welsh Government to return to the negotiating table with the British Medical Association.

BMA Cymru Wales argue that junior doctors in Wales have experienced a pay cut of 29.6% in real terms over the past 15 years.

Junior doctors withdrew their labour for three days last month in a dispute over. They are set to stage another three-day strike from Wednesday February 21, and a four-day strike from Friday March 25.

The BMA has rejected the 5% uplift for consultants, junior, and specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors. Consultants and SAS doctors also agreed to vote on strike action last year.

The 5% in Wales is the lowest pay increase of the UK nations. In England doctors were offered a 6% rise in July. The Doctors and Dentist Pay Review Body had recommended a 6% increase.

Speaking in the Senedd on February 7, South Wales East member Delyth Jewell urged the Welsh Health Minister to restart talks.

Plaid Cymru’s deputy Senedd leader said: “Junior doctors are not asking for a pay rise; they’re asking for pay restoration.

“I’m aware of how difficult the financial settlement that we have is, however, doctors’ salaries must be fair and competitive with those in other healthcare systems around the world, otherwise we will lose them.

“I urge the Welsh Government to return to the negotiating table with the junior doctors in an effort to avoid more strikes, because they don’t want to be on strike either; they want to be in the hospitals helping patients.”

Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan said the Welsh Government recognised the strength of feeling among junior doctors.

She said: “We certainly are very keen to address their pay restoration ambitions, I’m afraid that the 5% that has been put into their pay packages is at the limits of the finances available to us this year, and, obviously, it’s the same thing as has been offered to other health unions this year.”

In a statement, co-chairs of the BMA’s Welsh junior doctors committee, Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey, said: “What we are asking for is not unreasonable, nor is it unaffordable; however, Wales cannot afford to lose any more doctors, and we can no longer accept the unacceptable.

“We would always be willing to return to the table if a credible offer was put forward.

“After years of undervaluing our lifesaving service, our resolve has never been stronger. With record-high membership, we’re now a bigger, stronger union, and together we remain steadfast in our aim to restore our pay which has been cut by almost a third.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Without additional funding from the UK Government, we are not in a position to currently offer any more. We will continue to press them to pass on the funding necessary for full and fair pay rises for public sector workers.

“We remain committed to working in social partnership with the British Medical Association and are available for further talks at any stage. We will work with them and NHS Wales to ensure patient safety is protected during industrial action.”