Senior doctors back strike action in England

Some 86% of British Medical Association members backed walkouts over what the union described as repeated pay cuts.

The union had already announced that a 48-hour walkout on 20 and 21 July would take place if doctors backed action.

It will follow a five-day strike by junior doctors - the combination is likely to lead to huge disruption to services, and cancelled treatments.

The walkout by junior doctors across all services will end on 18 July.

Consultants will be providing what is being described as Christmas Day cover during their own strike - so emergency care will be provided, along with a very limited amount of routine work.

British Medical Association (BMA) consultants committee chair, Dr Vishal Sharma, said the vote showed how furious they were at being repeatedly devalued by the government.

But he said it was not too late to avert strike action, and urged the government to come forward with a credible offer.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said the "double-whammy" of strikes by doctors next month was a "huge risk" for the NHS to manage.