Patients in England are being told to expect disruption as doctors start their five-day strike on Wednesday, December 17.
Last Monday, the British Medical Association (MBA) said 83 per cent of its members had voted to continue the five-day strike in an online poll over the weekend, with a 65 per cent turnout.
With a wave of flu placing pressure on hospitals, non-urgent services would be affected by the strike, which began at 07:00 on Wednesday, NHS England said.
This is the 14th walkout by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, in the long-running pay dispute.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the strike had been timed to inflict the greatest damage on the NHS and put patients at risk. Still, the British Medical Association said it would work with NHS bosses to ensure safety, according to a BBC report.
The strike is being held after the two sides held last-minute talks on Tuesday afternoon.
