The plan would ensure that the harmful impacts of the strike are kept to an absolute minimum for patients.

As part of the plan, the Liberal Democrats are also calling on the Government to secure a more comprehensive derogation process with the BMA. This would enable hospitals to ask striking doctors to return to work if patient safety is at risk, not just in the event of an unforeseen emergency or mass casualty event, as is currently the case.

Jess Brown Fuller, Liberal Democrat hospitals and primary care spokesperson, said: ‘The Government cannot afford to dither and delay, there is too much at stake - and patients deserve to get the treatment they need when they need it.

‘That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for an NHS Strike Resilience Plan, to protect patients from suffering. The Government needs to pull its finger out and ensure that private hospitals are on standby so that anyone set to receive treatment is not forced to go without and waitlists are not left to soar.'