DOCTORS hit back at the NHS England today after the service claimed fewer than a third of resident doctors joined strike action last week.

The number that took part in the five-day walkout was down by 7.5 per cent on the previous round of industrial action in July last year, according to an analysis by NHS England.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected this, saying complex work schedules and doctors taking annual leave make the data “almost impossible to know.”

NHS England reported that around 10,000 more patients received care during the latest strike than during previous walkouts, and 93 per cent of planned operations, tests and procedures went ahead.

In past strikes, most non-urgent care was postponed.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it is time to “move past the cycle of disruption,” and urged the BMA to work with the government “in good faith” instead of pursuing “reckless strike action.”

The BMA acknowledged the efforts of senior doctors and healthcare workers during the strike but said: “NHS England’s claim… requires a huge stretch of the imagination, given it is almost impossible to know the exact number of residents working on any given day because of complex work patterns, on-call schedules and the strike spread across a weekend.

“[And] in July, many doctors are using up their remaining annual leave before their new posts start and would therefore not show up as striking.

“We look forward to seeing hard and fast data on NHS England’s claim.

“The strike could have been averted, as could any future ones, if Mr Streeting had come, and will come, to the table with a credible offer that resident doctors in England can accept.”

NHS chief executive Sir James Mackey noted care was still disrupted for thousands of people and said a repeat of strike action will be “unacceptable.”

NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said the walkout took a toll and trusts are concerned about potential wider industrial action in the health service.

Deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said: “This dispute can’t drag on.

“The union says resident doctors want this to be their last strike. With talks due to resume, let’s hope so.

“Bringing disruptive strikes to an end — where the only people being punished are patients — must be a priority.”