Thousands of resident doctors begin five-day walkout

• Resident doctors in England have begun a five-day strike, causing significant disruption to NHS services across the country.
• Sir Keir Starmer appealed to doctors to avert the "damaging road" of industrial action, warning it would hinder the NHS's recovery.
• NHS leaders have warned of widespread disruption, with some large hospitals potentially cancelling up to 50 per cent of patient appointments.
• Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused the BMA leadership of walking away from talks despite their members receiving a 28.9 per cent pay rise over three years.
• The BMA argued that doctors' assistants can earn significantly more than newly qualified resident doctors, highlighting a pay disparity.

IN FULL

Starmer makes last-minute plea to avert doctors’ five-day walkout