Henry Nicholls
Hospital doctors in England on Wednesday began their longest consecutive strike in the seven-decade history of Britain's National Health Service (NHS).
Junior doctors started a six-day walkout, 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 stoppage, which could see up to half of the medical workforce on picket lines, would have "a significant impact on almost all routine care".
"This January could be one of the most difficult starts to the year the NHS has ever faced," said its national medical director, Stephen Powis.
The strike is due to end next week on Tuesday.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the walkout in December after a breakdown in talks with the government.
The union said junior doctors have been offered a 3.0 per cent rise on top of the average 8.8 per cent increase they were given earlier this year.
It rejected the offer because the cash would be split unevenly across different doctor grades and would "still amount to pay cuts for many doctors".
Junior doctors have gone on strike at least seven times since March.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hospital leaders have criticised the action.
