Junior doctors in England are starting another day long strike protesting the latest contract that the health secretary Jeremy Hunt has been threatening to impose on them.

Around 2,884 non-urgent operations have got cancelled, and an unknown number of consultations at outpatient clinics, in front of the show of strength by many of 45,000 junior doctors in England.

The walkout held on Wednesday, followed the collapse of last-ditch talks between the British Medical Association, NHS Employers and the Department of Health regarding the shape of the latest contract under which all juniors in England have to operate August onwards.

Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor leader, accused the government of hindering a deal on Tuesday night. He tweeted that they presented a fully cost and working solution that got rejected because of pride and politics.

Negotiations have met a deadlock over the matter of if some or all of Saturday must become part of a normal working week of trainee doctor or not.

The chief executive of Salford Royal NHS foundation trust, Sir David Dalton has been drafted in by the government to broker a deal. He has been discussing with BMA representatives and NHS Employers officials in a proposal to avoid industrial action.

But the health department said that the casual talks came to an end on Tuesday and the BMA said that the strike would go continue as planned. In the 24-hour walkout, the junior doctors, including all doctors below consultant level, are going to give emergency care just from 8 am on Wednesday.

The action has been taken after the leaked NHS figures indicated that the number of young medics applying to carry forward their career in the health service by holding positions of specialists has dropped to a new low. It would apparently bear out fears that the clash will hit recruitment.