A FIVE-day doctors’ strike which starts today will trigger winter chaos in the NHS, health bosses warn.
Thousands of resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, in the British Medical Association will down tools until Wednesday.
It is the third winter in a row of pay protests and a major blow to hopes of cutting waiting lists.
Figures yesterday showed the surgery backlog fell from 7.41million to 7.39million in September.
But A&Es were struggling in October, and 55,000 people waited 12 hours or more for a bed.
NHS medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said: “NHS staff will be approaching their limits.
“It is frustrating.”
Daniel Elkeles, of hospital bosses group NHS Providers, said the walkout could bring progress on patient care and safety “grinding to a halt”.
Sarah Woolnough, of the King’s Fund think-tank, warned of “a winter blizzard of rising demand, industrial action, and a flu season that could be the worst in years”.
Flu levels have fallen since last week but it is spreading “unusually early”, the UK Health Security Agency said.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the fault for any disruption “lies squarely with the BMA who refused to put the Government offer to its members”.
He added: “I urge resident doctors not to follow the BMA out on strike, come to work to give your patients the care they need, and let’s continue rebuilding our NHS.”
