The British Medical Association (BMA) has requested mediation from the non-departmental public body, the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (Acas), to facilitate talks with the UK government relating to ongoing strikes by junior doctors over pay. The action, which is in its second day out of a planned four, is having a serious impact on the National Health Service (NHS), with around 350,000 operations and appointments estimated to have been rescheduled. The BMA claims junior doctors in England have experienced a 26% cut in pay since 2008/09. The government has stated it cannot afford a full restoration of the pay but has argued that the strike’s starting position of a 35% raise is unfeasible.