The $3 billion price tag of 16 strikes

The NHS faces a 'triple whammy of pressure' as the latest strike by resident doctors is set to coincide with a heatwave and the World Cup,health bosses warn. The strikes have so far cost the NHS over £3 billion in lost activity and overtime payments to covering consultants.

With each day of industrial action hitting finances to the sum of £50 million, the NHS is bracing for a surge in demand linked to a predicted heatwave and England's first World Cup game on Wednesday.

NHS officials are urging the public to come forward for care as usual but are braced for a surge in demand linked to a predicted heatwave and England's first World Cup game on Wednesday.

Heatwave and World Cup: A perfect storm for the NHS

The Met Office forecasts suggest temperatures will be 'generally above normal' between Tuesday and Thursday... The walk out, led by the British Medical Association, will end on Friday June 19 at 6.59am.

A&E's in England recorded their busiest ever month in May as Britons suffered from the impact of a heatwave, sparking concerns about how the NHS will cope with further rises in temperature.

Resident doctors,previously known as junior doctors, are demanding a pay rise of 24 per cent in addition to the 33.4 per cent they have received over the past four years.

Government and BMA urged to resolve dispute

Even at this late stage we urge both sides, the Government and the BMA, to get together and resolve this dispute once and for all.

Speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester this week, Health Secretary James Murray said: 'I was really disappointed that the resident doctors are going to strike next week.'

'I met them within my first couple of weeks in office and I explained to them my position, which is that there is a really good offer on the table when it comes to pay.'

Resident doctors' strike: What's at stake

Resident doctor members of the BMA have a mandate for industrial action until August. The union said that more strike dates in July could also be announced.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for doctors to be banned from striking, as is the case with police officers and the military.

The strikes have so far cost the NHS over £3 billion in lost activity and overtime payments to covering consultants, with each day of industrial action hitting finances to the sum of £50 million.