Hospital doctors in England, have commence their lengthiest strike to date, raising concerns among health authorities about added strain on services during this peak period.
Junior doctors, those below consultant rank, will gather at picket lines from 0700 GMT until the same time on Saturday, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing pay dispute.
Additionally, they have planned six more days of industrial action starting from January 3.
This strike coincides with a demanding period for the state-funded National Health Service, already under increased pressure due to seasonal respiratory illnesses.
The extended duration of this strike has drawn criticism from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hospital leaders, who have expressed that this prolonged walkout represents their “worst fears realized.”
“We would encourage junior doctors to consider carefully the extremely significant impact striking at such a challenging time will have both on the NHS and for individual patients and to return to talks,” Sunak said on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the British Medical Association declared the strike following failed negotiations with the government.
The union stated that junior doctors were offered a 3.0-percent increase in addition to the average 8.8-percent raise they received earlier this year.
