Junior doctors in Bradford and Airedale are joining thousands across the country in the first 'all-out' strike in the ongoing row over a new contract.
It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been affected during the dispute.
The walk-out has triggered the cancellation of more than 1,400 operations and appointments across the district.
Pickets were set up outside Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) and Airedale Hospital at 8am, where they will be until 5pm, before walking out again at 8am tomorrow.
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Junior doctor Will Chellam, picketing outside BRI with around 40 others, said: "We are not backing down. We have invested far too much time and effort into it."
Fellow junior doctor Paul Underwood said: "We have taken a very measured and steady escalation and given the government every opportunity to back down."
Junior doctors outside Bradford Royal Infirmary this morning
The bitter dispute surrounds new contracts set to be imposed on doctors working up to consultant level next summer.
The strike has caused 1,067 operations and appointments scheduled to take place at BRI and St Luke's Hospital over the two-day period to be cancelled, but all essential services such as emergency and urgent surgery will continue as normal.
The BRI picket line today
At Airedale General Hospital, around 385 procedures and appointments have been affected by the strike.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said the escalation of strike action by the British Medical Association, the union representing junior doctors', would "inevitably put patients in harm's way."
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt appealed directly to medics on Monday not to withdraw emergency cover, which he said had particular risks for A&E departments, maternity and intensive care.
The impasse between the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) prompted the industrial action, from 8am to 5pm on Tuesday and again on Wednesday.
The public has been supporting BRI junior doctors by honking car horns as they drive by
It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been affected during the dispute over a new contract.
Earlier on Monday, more than a dozen presidents of royal colleges and faculties urged Prime Minister David Cameron to step in "at the 11th hour" to break the stalemate.
A Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “Extensive planning and preparation has been undertaken and robust arrangements are in place to ensure that we keep our patients safe and quality care is maintained during this industrial action. All essential services such as emergency care and urgent surgery are continuing as normal.
“We have worked hard to minimise the cancellation of routine outpatient appointments and clinics but unfortunately, in order to provide safe emergency services, we have rescheduled some appointments and procedures.
“All affected patients have been contacted and if you have not heard from us you should attend your appointment as normal.
“We would like to thank all those who are affected for their patience and understanding.”
The picket line at Airedale
Stacey Hunter, director of operations at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have worked with our colleagues and union representatives to ensure patient safety, quality of care and safe levels of staffing have been maintained during the industrial action and all essential services such as emergency and urgent care, including care for women going into labour, has continued as normal.
“We would like to thank all staff for their help today and we are sorry for the inconvenience for those patient whose appointments or procedures have been affected and will do our best to reschedule these as soon as possible.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Hunt should "back off ", adding: "We must stand up and defend the NHS."
- A new website allowing patients to search for any additional or extended services being provided in their local area is due to go live today. For details, visit www.nhs.uk/strike.
Patients are also advised to only use A&E in an emergency and use GPs, pharmacies and the NHS's 111 phone service.
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