Doctors in England begin five-day walkout during flu surge

LONDON, Dec ‌17 (Reuters) - Doctors in England will begin a five-day strike on Wednesday over pay ‍and ‌working conditions during a surge in flu cases and with no end in sight to ⁠an increasingly bitter dispute between the ‌government and doctors' union.

The walkout is the latest in a series of strikes this year by "resident" or junior doctors, who make up nearly half the medical workforce and say their pay has been ⁠eroded over more than a decade.

The government says it cannot afford to increase pay more than it already ​has, and health minister Wes Streeting has called the strikes "self-indulgent, ‌irresponsible and dangerous". 

The industrial action adds ⁠pressure to an already-stretched healthcare service. National Health Service England warned last week that hospitals were facing a "worst-case scenario" from a surge in cases of a virulent strain ​of flu. 

"Staff will come together as they always do... but sadly more patients are likely to feel the impact of this round of strikes than in the previous two," said Meghana Pandit, NHS England's national medical director.

FLU YET TO REACH PEAK  

Flu hospitalisations ​in England ‍surged by more than 50% ​in early December, reaching an average of 2,660 patients a day - the highest for this period. Health leaders have said there was still no peak in sight.

NHS England said there may be fewer doctors on duty than usual during the strikes, requiring staff to prioritise life-saving care, meaning patients with less urgent conditions could face longer waits. Some appointments ⁠will be rescheduled.

Shortly after being elected last year, the Labour government agreed a 22% pay rise for doctors to end a ​dispute that began under the previous Conservative government. 

However, after being awarded another 5.4% rise this year, the conflict flared again.

The British Medical Association, which represents resident doctors, is seeking a 29% increase this year to restore pay to ‌2008 levels in real terms.

A last-ditch government bid to avert the strikes by offering better training options was overwhelmingly rejected by BMA members. 

(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)