• England's resident doctors voted 83% to reject the government's latest offer for improved working conditions.
• A five-day strike starts Wednesday, impacting both emergency and non-urgent care.
• Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized the strike as "irresponsible" during a severe flu season.
• The strike represents the ongoing dispute over pay, which has seen residents seek a return to 2008 salary levels.
• Hospitalizations due to flu have risen sharply, complicating the situation for healthcare providers.

Resident doctors in England have voted overwhelmingly to proceed with a five-day strike, rejecting the government's latest offer regarding pay and working conditions. The British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed that 83% of its members supported the strike action in an online poll, with a turnout of 65%. The strike is scheduled to begin at 07:00 GMT on Wednesday and continue until 07:00 GMT the following Monday, adding to a series of earlier strikes in recent months, as resident doctors represent nearly half of the medical workforce in England, according to Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

The government’s recent offer included provisions for increasing specialty training posts and covering exam fees, but notably excluded any adjustments to pay. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated that the BMA's demands for higher salaries are unrealistic, especially after a 30% increase in pay over the last three years. However, resident doctors highlight that their compensation remains significantly lower, about a fifth less than it was in 2008 when adjusted for inflation, according to Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

The upcoming strike occurs during a critical time as England faces a significant rise in flu hospitalizations, which increased by more than 50% in early December. NHS leaders have expressed concerns over the timing, stressing the added strain on healthcare facilities. Hospital admissions from flu are currently averaging about 2,660 patients daily, the highest for this period, leading to calls for the union to reconsider the strike timing as hospitals are already in a precarious situation, according to Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.