Longest-ever NHS strike will sink Sunak’s waiting list pledge, say health chiefs

Junior doctors call on government to make credible offer as Wednesday's six-day walkout threatens to stretch service to limits

One of Rishi Sunak's key targets for the NHS - to eliminate waits of longer than 65 weeks for operations and other procedures by March - is likely to be missed because of strike action, health bosses warned this weekend.

The health service faces the longest national strike in its history when junior doctors walk out for six days from 7am on Wednesday. One NHS trust leader said he expected about a third of operations to be cancelled at his trust.