More than 116,000 routine procedures and appointments were postponed across England due to January's six-day strike by junior doctors, NHS England figures show.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said:

"Let's hope that this strike is the last one. Health services have gone through really tough, challenging times since December 2022 with around 70 full days of industrial action across the NHS in England on top of pressure from growing demand.

"The government and unions must sit down and talk, to find a way to stop this dispute dragging on. Meanwhile we wait with bated breath for the results of votes by consultants and by specialty and specialist doctors on pay offers.

"Urgent and emergency care, always a priority during strikes, has been under the cosh during the six-day walkout which came hard on the heels of a three-day stoppage in the run-up to Christmas. Pressure has increased on already stretched services as trusts' teams work at full pelt at the busiest time of the year for the NHS.

"An expected post-strike surge in demand, combined with the cold snap's effect on many people's health plus senior medics needing time off after covering for striking doctors, means no let-up for the NHS.

"With more than 1.4m hospital, mental health and community service appointments including operations and scans delayed since last December because of industrial action, we can't afford more strikes."