English hospitals brace for ‘alarming’ disruption as GPs go on strike

Exclusive: A&Es and mental health services face dangerous' surge that could continue into 2025, say bosses

• Why are English GPs taking industrial action and how will it affect patients?

The NHS faces alarming" and dangerous" disruption until Christmas and potentially into 2025, health chiefs have said, after GPs began their first industrial action in 60 years amid a major row over funding.

Hospitals, A&E units and mental health services are already under huge pressure. They are now braced for a surge in demand from thousands of patients turning to them for help after family doctors in England launched work-to-rule action on Thursday.