Doctors' strike hits healthcare in England

Senior hospital doctors in England went on strike last week in their dispute over pay, causing severe disruption to the National Health Service, with consultants warning of further strikes if the government does not enter "meaningful talks".

The two-day strike on Thursday and Friday meant thousands of planned appointments were postponed as services were reduced to Christmas Day levels. The consultants' industrial action followed a five-day walkout by their junior colleagues that ended on July 18.

Hospital leaders warned that care would be brought to a "virtual standstill", adding that delayed appointments, which often detect serious health conditions, compromised patients' safety. The senior medics stopped seeing patients and were not available to supervise the work of junior doctors.