A junior doctors' strike in England could postpone 250,000 appointments.

Key Highlights :

1. Up to 250,000 NHS medical appointments and operations could be postponed next week as a result of the latest round of junior doctors' strikes.

2. The strikes will run from 6.59am on Tuesday until 6.59am on Saturday, April 15.

3. Patient safety will not be compromised, the Department of Health and Social Care has said.

4. Negotiations between the government and the British Medical Association are still possible, but the strikes must be called off before any negotiations take place.

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     NHS bosses have warned that up to 250,000 NHS appointments and operations could be postponed due to the upcoming junior doctors' strikes over four days from Tuesday. The strikes, which are due to start at 8am on Tuesday, April 10, will see junior doctors across the UK walk out in protest over changes to their contract. The strikes are expected to cause widespread disruption for patients, with NHS bosses warning that up to 250,000 appointments and operations could be postponed.\

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     NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: "The impact of the strikes on patients and staff is already being felt and will only get worse as the day goes on. We are urging the doctors to call off the strike and allow patients and staff to get the care they need. We are prepared to talk to them about how to do this."\

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     The strikes are the latest in a series of protests by junior doctors over changes to their contract. The contract changes, which were announced in March, will see the number of hours that junior doctors can work reduced from 80 to 70 per week. The strikes are also expected to cause disruption to NHS services across the UK.

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