NHS chiefs fear for patient safety during six-day junior doctor strike

Doctors protest outside the Conservative party conference in October. The NHS Confederation has urged the BMA to ensure the recall system works reliably if it is triggered. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

NHS bosses fear patient safety could be compromised during this week’s junior doctors strikes in England if medics do not honour an agreement to abandon picket lines if hospitals become overwhelmed during the winter crisis.

Hospital bosses can ask the British Medical Association (BMA) to allow junior doctors to return to work to help if an emergency arises during their six-day strike starting on Wednesday.