Resident doctors in England will go on strike for five consecutive days in the run-up to Christmas, the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced.

The walkout will take place from 7am on December 17 until December 22.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemned the move as “cynical”, and accused the union of attempting to turn medics “into the Grinch who stole Christmas”.

He added that his “door has always been open” and he stands ready “to do a deal that puts patients first this Christmas”.

Experts expect pressure on services to be “intense” amid surging flu cases and staff sickness, but medics say they have been left with “no choice”.

Dr Jack Fletcher , chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said: “With the Government failing to put forward a credible plan to f

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