Junior doctors are to embark on three days strike action, after 98 per cent voted in favour of walkouts. 

The industrial action, expected early in March, will see junior doctors withdraw cover from A&E departments.

Such action would be the most extreme in the union’s history, with previous strikes limited to shorter periods, and in most cases maintaining emergency care.

A British Medical Association (BMA) ballot with a turnout of 77 percent, saw 98 per cent of those voting back strike action. 

BMA junior doctors committee co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: “The Government has only itself to blame, standing by in silent indifference as our members are forced to take this difficult decision.”

More than 47,600 junior doctors in England were eligible to vote in the BMA’s ballot.

Almost 37,000 votes were cast, with the figures resulting in the largest ever turnout for a ballot of doctors by the BMA and a record number of junior doctors voting for strike action.