Thousands of resident doctors have begun strike action across England in a dispute over pay.

Axar.az informs, citing Guardian, the five-day action, which began at 7am on Friday, is the 13th walkout by doctors since March 2023 and health leaders have warned that the NHS may have to cut frontline staff and offer fewer appointments and operations if the strikes continue.

The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, which represent health trusts, said continued action was piling pressure on already-stretched budgets. The last industrial action in July was estimated to have cost the health service £300m.

Patients would be forced to wait longer for care, and many may no longer be able to work without the treatment they needed, they said.