Consultant doctors in England are to stage a two-day strike next month in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The walkout will begin on 25 November at 06:59 GMT, with consultants providing emergency cover only.
This is known as Christmas Day cover and is likely to have a major impact on most routine and elective services.
The announcement comes after talks had taken place with the government over the past month following the vote in favour of strike action by British Medical Association members in July.
Consultants – the most senior doctors in the NHS – were given a 3.5% pay increase this year.
But the BMA argues pay has fallen by a quarter over the past 17 years, once inflation is taken into account.
The union also wants a reduction in the standard working week from 40 to 35 hours and higher pay for out-of-hours work alongside changes to pensions.
In a joint statement, BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, said they had tried to negotiate with the government in “good faith”, but “time-and-time again ministers have kicked the can down the road”.
“Unfortunately, that road has now run out, and we have been forced to announce strikes.
“Consultants take their responsibilities incredibly seriously, and striking does not come naturally, but we are hearing loud and clear from the profession that they have had enough.”
Basic pay for consultants starts at £113,500 a year with the most experienced paid £150,500.
But they can earn thousands of pounds in extra payments which means average earnings are more than £150,000 a year.
In the strike ballot 76% of consultants who took part voted in favour with turnout just over 50%.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government had been in “constructive discussions” with the BMA so it was “disappointing” the strike dates had been announced.
She said taking strike action would be “irresponsible” and “place the health service under even greater pressure”.
The strike announcement comes as consultants and other doctors are taking part in strike action during November in Northern Ireland.
