New year junior doctors’ strikes will risk patient safety, says health leader

NHS Confederation boss calls on government and unions to end dispute in England before six-day action begins

Patient safety will be put at risk in the next round of junior doctors' strikes in England, a health leader has warned while pleading for ministers and the British Medical Association (BMA) to end the dispute.

Junior doctors have returned to work after a three-day strike, with the next spell of industrial action - the longest in NHS history - less than a fortnight away.