What do the letters NHS stand for? Judging from placards seen at the junior doctors' strike, it's either "No to Hunt's Stupidity", "New Health Secretary" or "Not Hunt's Slaves".

junior doctos strike
Protesters demonstrate during a doctors strike outside the Museum of The History of Science in Oxford Dylan Martinez/Reuters
junior doctos strike
"No to Hunt's Stupidity": a placard seen during the junior doctors' strike outside the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford Dylan Martinez/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A junior doctor holds a placard during a strike outside University College Hospital in London Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Thousands of junior doctors in England went ahead with their second 24-hour walkout after last-ditch talks between the government and the British Medical Association (BMA) collapsed. Junior doctors will only offer emergency care during the 24-hour period. Hundreds of operations will be cancelled, the NHS said, stressing that many more will go ahead as planned.

Of the 37,000 junior doctors in England, 98% voted for strikes in protest against the new employment contract proposed by Jeremy Hunt. The Health Secretary was the butt of the jokes on many of the placards carried by junior doctors outside hospitals around England.

junior doctos strike
Junior Doctors carry a placard on Westminster Bridge as they demonstrate outside St Thomas's Hospital in London Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
junior doctos strike
A placard reading: "Big Dave, it's time to give Jezza his P45" is seen during the doctors' strike in Oxford Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
junior doctos strike
Junior doctors and NHS staff hold placards during a strike outside St Thomas' Hospital in London Toby Melville/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A junior doctor holds a placard poking fun at Jeremy Hunt outside St Thomas' Hospital in London Toby Melville/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A demonstrator carries a placards at Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester Paul Ellis/AFP

The government wants to introduce changes in the way doctors are being paid. The main sticking point is over weekend pay and whether Saturday should be classed as a normal working day. Junior doctors are currently paid a premium at weekend. The BMA says the contract does not provide proper safeguards against doctors working dangerously long hours.

junior doctos strike
A protester holds a placard outside the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford Dylan Martinez/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A placard warns of the problems faced by junior doctors under the new plan Phil Noble/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A "Save Our NHS" placard is held aloft during a junior doctors' strike outside Manchester University Hospital Phil Noble/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A junior doctor wears a surgical mask with a message during a strike outside University College Hospital in London Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A placard that reads "Junior Doctors Are Not For Sale" is displayed outside St Thomas' Hospital Toby Melville/Reuters
junior doctos strike
A junior doctor holds a placard during a strike outside Manchester University Hospital Phil Noble/Reuters
junior doctos strike
Junior doctors demonstrate outside Salford Royal Hospital during a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The public appear to be on the junior doctors' side. A survey of more than 800 people, conducted by Ipsos Mori and the Health Service Journal, found that 66% supported the action and 64% said the it was the government's fault the dispute has gone on for this long, compared to only 13% who blamed the junior doctors.

More about the junior doctors' strike
NHS