The strike action came after relations between the Government and British Medical Association (BMA) soured over a pay dispute.

The Royal College of Nursing is furious nurses have been awarded a lower pay deal than doctors and its members have voted whether to accept a 3.6% rise

The NHS is facing a challenging few days during the doctors strike in England as it attempts to keep as many services as possible running, said the health secretary. Wes Streeting said while it was not possible to eliminate disruption from the five-day strike by resident doctors, it was being kept to a minimum.