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In what could be the longest consecutive strike action ever taken in the history of the National Health Service (NHS), junior doctors are set to begin their six-day walkout from tomorrow (Wednesday 3 January) at 7am, until 7am on Tuesday 9 January. As the record industrial action has come in the middle of growing winter pressures, the NHS England has warned that this week could be one of "the most difficult starts to the year" for health services across the country. With consultant busy covering urgent and emergency cases, the strikes could have a significant impact on almost all routine care. NHS National Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis said: "This January could be one of the most difficult starts to the year the NHS has ever faced.

The recent industrial action by junior doctors and hospital dental trainees, which is considered the longest strike in NHS history, caused a significant impact on the NHS services. Data published by NHS England showed that 113,779 inpatient and outpatient appointments were rescheduled due to the strike, which began on Wednesday 3 January at 7.00am and finished at 7.00am on Tuesday 9 January. Junior doctors make up around half of all doctors in the health service, but 25,446 staff remained absent from work at the peak of the last week's latest action. The ongoing dispute between junior doctors and government over the 2022/23 pay award has disrupted more than one million hospital appointments so far. The junior doctors' strike in December 2023 impacted 86,329 hospital appointments, and their previous action in October saw over 86,000 appointments cancelled.

Junior doctors have accepted the government's pay offer by 66 per cent, marking the end of the most prolonged industrial dispute in the history of the NHS. Following this new deal, a newly qualified doctor starting foundation training in the NHS will now receive a basic salary of £36,600, compared to around £32,400 prior to the agreement. Beyond pay increases, the government and junior doctors agreed to work together to resolve wider issues affecting the workforce, including training and rotational placements. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting made resolving the strikes his top priority, holding talks with the British Medical Association's (BMA's) junior doctors committee on his first day in office. Streeting expressed his relief that the offer was agreed upon within weeks, ending the strikes ahead of looming winter pressures on the NHS.