LAST week’s second 24-hour strike in less than a month by junior doctors caused “minimal disruption” to patients and services at Royal Surrey County Hospital, which postponed 153 of 1,593 outpatients appointments and 14 operations.

But the aftermath could cause major embarrassment for Health Secretary and South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Hunt, if a group of MPs allow a debate in the Commons triggered by an online petition calling for a vote of no confidence.

A growing backlash started as the strike ended and Mr Hunt confirmed the Government will impose a new contract on junior doctors starting in August.

Addressing ministers in the House of Commons last Thursday, Mr Hunt said he had no choice but to act on his longstanding threat after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected a “best and final” offer.

The new contract, which Mr Hunt says is vital to delivering the Government’s key manifesto pledge to introduce a “seven-day” NHS by 2020, will be imposed on August 1 – increasing the likelihood of further confrontation and industrial action.

Criticising the BMA for a lack of flexibility in talks, Mr Hunt told the Commons: “While I understand this process has generated considerable dismay among junior doctors, I believe the new contract we are introducing is one that, in time, can command the confidence of both the workforce and their employers.”

An online protest petition was posted on the parliamentary website the same day, calling for a vote of “no confidence” in Jeremy Hunt, gathering more than 200,000 signatures over the weekend, twice the number required to trigger a debate.

Members of the petitions committee that adjudicates on which pleas should be allowed to be debated in Parliament will meet on February 23, to make a decision.

A similar petition gathered 220,000 signatures in September and triggered an afternoon debate on NHS contracts and working conditions.

Conservatives in Fareham, Hampshire, announched they had cancelled a drinks and canapés event Mr Hunt was scheduled to attend last Friday, after reports doctors were buying tickets so they could ask gatecrash the local Tory party social function to question him about their new contract.

It was held at a different location only disclosed to party members.