Junior doctors across England commenced the longest strike in the history of the National Health Service (NHS) on Wednesday, January 3.

The strike, initiated by the British Medical Association, involves thousands of medics and centers around a bitter pay dispute.

ALSO READ: Doctors in England begin fresh strike over pay dispute

As the walkout unfolded at 7 am, health officials expressed concerns that routine services could be severely impacted, with a focus shift towards urgent and emergency care.

Figures reveal that more than 337,000 appointments and operations have been cancelled in London due to the ongoing strike.

This marks the highest number of rescheduled appointments in any region in England, constituting over a quarter (27.8%) of the 1.2 million operations and procedures cancelled nationally during a year of industrial action in the NHS.

Barking, Havering, and Redbridge NHS Trust in east London alone reported the rearrangement of 1,373 outpatient appointments and 88 non-urgent surgeries.

The strike comes after unsuccessful talks between Health Secretary Victoria Atkins and the BMA last month, with the government insisting on the union calling off the strike before negotiations resume.

ALSO READ: FG set to unveil universal health coverage initiative

The NHS, anticipating up to half of the medical workforce in England participating in the strike, has warned of a potentially challenging start to the year, emphasizing that emergency and urgent care will be prioritized during the strikes. Despite the disruptions, patients are encouraged to seek care if needed.