The Latest Breaking News from Steve Barclay

Up to a quarter of a million appointments could be postponed in the longest stoppage of the wave of unrest in the UK.

Junior doctors in Britain began a four-day strike over pay on Tuesday that is likely to cause unprecedented disruption to the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), prompting the government to warn of a risk to patient safety.

Health secretary Steve Barclay says pay demands ‘unrealistic’ and attacks union’s ‘militant stance’

Junior doctors will walk out until Saturday

Hospitals to have as few as half the number of senior doctors available as during previous strike action, with cancer services and critical care among the casualties

Members of the British Medical Association to mount picket lines outside hospitals until Saturday

An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, could be cancelled this week due to the strike.

One of the biggest strikes by medics starts today, with warnings of cancelled appointments and ­operations, as staff battle for better pay

Hospitals to have as few as half the number of senior doctors available as during previous strike action, with cancer services and critical care among the casualties

Warning comes on eve of England’s 61,000 junior doctors beginning four-day action

Health secretary Steve Barclay says pay demands ‘unrealistic’ and attacks union’s ‘militant stance’