The NHS England data shows 93% of planned care was maintained during the action, meaning operations, tests and procedures were carried out despite the disruption, as well as dealing with urgent and emergency cases.

Early data indicates that less than a third of resident doctors chose to strike with the number of strikers down by 7.5% (1,243) compared to the previous round of industrial action with most resident doctors choosing to join the NHS-wide effort to keep the services open.

Sir James Mackey, NHS chief executive, said: ‘The NHS has come together like never before to minimise the impact of strikes on patients, and I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of staff, including many resident doctors, who worked hard to manage the disruption, protect patients, and ensure the NHS remained open for those who needed.

‘While this is really good news for the vast majority of patients whose treatment went ahead, we should still acknowledge that there were thousands whose care was disrupted.

‘NHS staff will continue to work hard to ensure patients can get their rescheduled care as soon as possible, but for those patients – and for all our staff who had to work extra shifts or with different responsibilities – a repeat of this action will be unacceptable. So, I would urge the Resident Doctors Committee to get back to the negotiating table and work with us and the Government on the meaningful improvements we can make to resident doctors working lives.'

Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said: ‘Despite the huge effort made to keep as much planned care as possible going, let's be clear – these damaging strikes still come at a cost to patients, other staff and the NHS.

‘A majority of resident doctors didn't vote for strike action and data shows that less than a third of residents took part. I want to thank those resident doctors who went to work for their commitment to their patients and to our shared mission to rebuild the NHS.

‘I want to end this unnecessary dispute and I will be urging the BMA to work with the government in good faith in our shared endeavour to improve the working lives of resident doctors, rather than pursuing more reckless strike action. It's time to move past this cycle of disruption and focus on our shared mission to build on our Plan for Change and create an NHS fit for the future.'

The data also reveals how trusts were able to keep services open for patients during the period of industrial action:

• West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – activity delivered: 98%
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – activity delivered: 95%
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – activity delivered: 95%
• Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – activity delivered: 90%
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust – activity delivered: 95%

In response, Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: ‘NHS leaders and their teams have worked incredibly hard to maintain levels of planned activity over the most recent strike period. This result is a testament to their careful planning, and their commitment to patients and tackling the elective waiting list in line with the government's priorities.

‘However, this will be of no comfort to those patients whose appointments, procedures and operations were cancelled as a result of the resident doctors' strike last week. We urge the BMA to focus on discussions on non-pay measures, rather than planning more strikes.'

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, said: ‘Even though trusts cancelled fewer appointments than before, the strike still took its toll on patients and an already stretched NHS. The costly strike meant disruption and disappointment for thousands of people waiting for operations, scans and other care.

‘NHS trust leaders want to be putting all of their time and energy into improving services instead of dealing with strikes which set back hard-won progress in cutting waiting lists.

‘This dispute can't drag on. The union says resident doctors want this to be their last strike. With talks due to resume, let's hope so. Bringing disruptive strikes - where the only people being punished are patients - to an end must be a priority.'