Doctors in England will go on strike for five days this month, in a sharp escalation of their dispute with Wes Streeting that further threatens the health secretary’s promise to cut NHS waiting times.

Junior doctors in England will go on strike from July 25-30, their trade union said on Wednesday, after the British government said it could not meet their demands for an improved pay deal this year.

Resident doctors in England have once again voted in favour of strike action, in the latest chapter in a long-running pay dispute. The doctors, previously known as junior doctors, were awarded a 5.4% pay rise for this financial year,