Young doctors and consultants will stage a joint strike for the first time in NHS history

The coordinated industrial action, which sees junior doctors and consultants go on strike for the first time in NHS history, is due to take place for 48 hours from September. 19 Junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) at a rally outside Downing Street in London (

Image: PA)

Young doctors and consultants will stage their first-ever joint strike this month amid fears NHS care will come to a halt.

The British Medical Association has announced that the two main groups of NHS doctors will withdraw to England at the same time for four days in September and October. This decision constitutes a significant escalation as it will make it impossible to cover shifts on strike days.

Consultants in England will strike on September 19 and 20, with "Christmas" coverage levels. Young doctors will join the strike on September 20, also with “Christmas” coverage levels. They will continue their full walkouts on September 21 and 22. Consultants and young doctors will be on strike on October 2, 3 and 4, always with “Christmas” coverage levels.

The BMA says the strikes will come on top of other days when consultants and junior doctors walk out separately. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to negotiate with doctors who for a decade have endured below-inflation pay deals, driving down real wages by about a third.

The strike movement must last 48 hours from September 19 (

Picture:

Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock)

The co-chairs of the Young Doctors Committee, Dr Rob Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, said: "Today young doctors across England are sending in a single mess...