The strike action runs from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6:59am on Monday 13 April.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘It is disappointing for patients and staff alike that the BMA has decided to press ahead with strikes this week, despite the deal we put to them which would have seen resident doctors 35.2% better off, on average, than they were four years ago.

‘My attention and that of leaders across the NHS is now on protecting patients and staff by minimising disruption to the health service.

‘Thanks to the dedication of talented NHS staff, the health service delivered almost 95% of planned activity during December strikes, and I want to reassure patients that the NHS will be there for you when you need it this time too. My heartfelt thanks go out to all those hard at work this week.'

NHS England said the strikes were expected to be ‘particularly challenging' due to the shorter notice period – which also includes bank holidays – and the action itself falling during the Easter holiday, but added plans were in place to continue urgent and emergency care as normal, while keeping as much planned care going as possible.

The BMA announced the latest strike action on 25 March after dismissing the latest Government pay offer to resident doctors as 'insufficient'.

The union said: ‘Unfortunately, it became clear in negotiations that the money proposed for pay increases was now going to be spread over three years. This is on top of the pay review body recommendation of a pay uplift of just 3.5%.'

Director of acute and ambulance care at The NHS Alliance, Rory Deighton, said further strike action was ‘bitterly disappointing', adding: ‘We are hearing from members that the timing of this walkout, coming off the back of an extended bank holiday weekend, has compounded the usual pressures you would expect to see at this time.

‘That's adding to disruption and delays for patients and is hard to take for the many staff who have given so much to maintain standards of care throughout this long and damaging dispute.

‘There's also a heavy cost both to patients and financially for the health service in ensuring cover and rescheduling work that should have gone ahead.

‘However, it's important that patients don't put off any care they need and come to scheduled appointments unless they've been advised not to.'