The NHS has said 93% of planned operations, tests and procedures went ahead during a recent strike that saw fewer than a third of resident doctors walk out.
Early data shows the NHS maintained care for an estimated 10,000 more patients than it did during last year’s industrial action.
Thousands of resident doctors – previously known as junior doctors – took part in the five-day strike, which ended on Wednesday morning.
The overall number that walked out was down by 7.5% (1,243) on the previous strike in late June last year, according to early analysis of management information collected by NHS England.
There are roughly 77,000 resident doctors working in hospital and community health services, meaning they make up about half of all doctors in the NHS.
While most patients received treatments as planned, NHS chief executive Sir James Mackey said: “We should still acknowledge that there were thousands whose care was disrupted.”
NHS staff are working to ensure cancelled appointments can be rescheduled as soon as possible but “a repeat of this action will be unacceptable” for the patients affected, he added.
“So, I would urge the Resident Doctor Committee to get back to the negotiating table and work with us and the government on the meaningful improvements we can make to resident doctors’ working lives.”
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “I want to again thank staff from across the NHS who have put in an incredible shift to make sure that the NHS was open to as many patients as possible over the five days of unnecessary strike action.
“Despite the huge effort made to keep as much planned care as possible going, let’s be clear – these damaging strikes still come at a cost to patients, other staff and the NHS.”
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The dispute between the BMA and the government largely centres on pay – but Mr Streeting has repeatedly said there is no money for an increase, adding that it “should be clear to the BMA by now that it will lose a war with this government”.
He has said talks could lead to improvements in the working lives of resident doctors.
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Earlier this week, the co-chairs of the BMA’s Resident Doctor Committee, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said they “look forward” to returning to the negotiating table.
A statement added: “The BMA has been willing to negotiate throughout this dispute, and we remain committed to finding a resolution.
“We are very clear on what is needed to settle this pay dispute, and we hope the secretary of state is now equally clear that a credible offer must be brought to the table to achieve a settlement and prevent further strike action.”
