A five-day strike by resident doctors is set to begin at 7 AM on Friday, with ongoing negotiations between the government and the BMA's Resident Doctors Committee aiming to prevent it.

The BMA has urged NHS leadership to reconsider their instructions to continue non-urgent planned care during the strikes to protect patient safety.

Concerns have been raised about hospital operations during the upcoming walkout, which could impact patient safety due to changes in how care is delivered.

The recent strikes in September 2024 ended after resident doctors accepted a government pay deal that included a 22.3% increase over two years, but the BMA argues this is insufficient.

The BMA contends that a 29.2% pay increase is necessary to address pay erosion since 2008, and the recent agreement still falls short of this target.

The strikes originated from failed negotiations over pay, with resident doctors demanding a 29.2% increase to compensate for pay erosion, while the government offered less.

NHS England's Sir Jim Mackey highlighted the importance of better planning this time around to avoid the significant disruptions seen during previous strikes.

The last round of strikes in 2024 caused an estimated £1.5 billion in costs and led to the postponement of approximately 1.5 million appointments and procedures.

Sir Jim Mackey emphasized that improved planning is crucial to prevent the chaos experienced during prior strikes and to minimize disruption.