Doctors in England have begun their longest consecutive strike in the seven-decade history of Britain's National Health Service (NHS). Junior doctors, those below consultant level, will walk out for six days in a major escalation of their long-running pay dispute with the UK government.
The industrial action comes at one of the busiest times of the year for the state-funded NHS, when it faces increased pressure from winter respiratory illnesses.
It also quickly follows a three-day strike held by doctors just before Christmas.
The NHS said the latest walkout, which could see up to half of the medical workforce on picket lines, would have "a significant impact on almost all routine care".
The strike which started 7am on Wednessday morning is due to end at the same time on Tuesday 9 January.
The British Medical Association (BMA) in a statement, the union urged the government to make a "credible" pay offer to end the strikes, which threaten to increase the pressure on the health service, where more than 7.7 million on waiting lists seek treatment.
In response to the strike, the NHS, has cancelled 1.2 million appointments since it began in 2023.
However, the UK government, which has agreed new pay deals with other healthcare workers, including nurses and senior doctors in recent months, has resisted hikes it says would worsen inflation.
reuters.com | rte.ie
