Doctors Strike: Christmas NHS Crisis Looms

Resident doctors in England will commence a five-day strike starting Wednesday after overwhelmingly rejecting a new offer from the government. The British Medical Association (BMA) reported that 83% of its members voted in favour of continued industrial action, citing the offer as "too little, too late." This walkout is set to exacerbate pressures on the National Health Service, which is already bracing for a potential "super flu" surge.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has strongly criticised the BMA's decision, labelling the strikes "self-indulgent, irresponsible and dangerous" and accusing the union of showing "shocking disregard for patient safety." He had proposed postponing the strikes to January to mitigate impact during the Christmas season. However, the BMA maintains that the current offer fails to address pay erosion and job security concerns.