The UK Government is introducing minimum service level (MSL) regulations to safeguard patient care during strikes.

These regulations will enable a balanced approach allowing workers to strike while maintaining the safety of the public.

Some doctors and nurses will be required to work during strikes to protect patient safety.

The regulations will cover hospital staff including nurses and doctors to provide urgent, emergency and time-critical hospital-based health services.

The MSLs will be introduced as part of a consultation which will seek evidence for informing decisions on the expansion, along with the scope of MSLs.

Earlier this year, a consultation was launched on MSLs in ambulance services to bring the UK in alignment with countries such as France and Italy.

This public consultation was launched in the event of strike action in ambulance services and closed in May.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This week’s coordinated and calculated strike action will create further disruption and misery for patients and NHS colleagues.

“My top priority is to protect patients and these regulations would provide a safety net for trusts and an assurance to the public that vital health services will be there when they need them.

“Doctors who started their hospital training this year are receiving a 10.3% pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting 8.8% and consultants are receiving a 6% pay rise alongside generous reforms to their pensions, which was the BMA’s number one ask.”

The government plans to initiate MSLs in key hospital-based services next year.