The strike action will run from 7am 14 November to 7am 19 November.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee (RDC), said: ‘Better employment prospects and restoring pay - are a credible way forward that would work for doctors, work for Government and work for our patients. The health secretary's 11th hour letter to us today makes vague promises for some degree of change to jobs and training for two years hence, showing little understanding of the crisis here and now, or a real commitment to fix it.

‘While we want to get a deal done, the Government seemingly, does not, leaving us with little option but to call for strike action.

‘That is disappointing, but it is not irredeemable. Wes Streeting inherited an NHS falling apart through decades of underinvestment, but restoring our pay over several years, along with concrete plans to create more jobs and training place would go a long way towards the start of a new and better health service. We need the health secretary to step up, come forward with a proper offer on jobs, on pay. We need him to embrace change and make an NHS fit for doctors and fit for patients.'

In response, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting, said: ‘The BMA's reckless posturing will harm patients, leave other doctors and NHS staff to pick up the pieces and divert resources away from rebuilding the NHS.  

‘Working with leaders across the NHS, all my focus will now be on doing everything in my power to minimise the disruption to patient care these strikes will regrettably cause. We will not allow the BMA to wreck the NHS's recovery.

‘I urge the BMA to call off these needless strikes and come back to the table. They have a government that wants to work with them to improve the working lives of resident doctors and create an NHS fit for the future.'

Reaction

Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, said: ‘Ultimately, despite the best efforts to plan and put contingencies in place, it is patients who bear the brunt of industrial action, with more cancelled appointments, tests and operations leaving people waiting longer for the care they need.

‘We would urge the BMA to get back around the table and try to find a solution that does not involve more disruption to an NHS that is already under immense pressure.'

Chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles, said: ‘Another strike by resident doctors is the last thing the NHS needs, particularly as we head into what's going to be another challenging winter for the health service.

‘Trust leaders will do everything they can to prepare for this five-day walkout but once again, it'll be patients that will be left paying the price.'