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LONDON, England: A UK National Health Service official has said that a quarter-million medical appointments could be postponed next week due to a four-day strike planned by tens of thousands of doctors in England.

The impact of next week’s strike is expected to be far greater than a three-day walkout last month, said Dr. Layla McCay, policy director at the NHS Confederation, according to the Associated Press.

“The impact is going to be so significant that this one is likely to have impact on patient safety, and that is a huge concern for every health care leader,” said McCay.

The action planned by ‘junior’ doctors would be the latest in a series of strikes by public sector workers who are demanding pay hikes of more than 10 percent to offset inflation and amid a current cost-of-living crisis.

Last week, passport office workers began a five-week strike, while security officers at Heathrow Airport went on a 10-day strike.

Additionally, train and bus drivers, postal workers, ambulance drivers, nurses and teachers in the UK have also gone on strike in recent months, causing considerable chaos.

The British Medical Association said over the past 15 years, junior doctors have lost more than 26 percent in real-term pay, but the union representing doctors said the strikes could be avoided if the government makes a reasonable offer for a salary increase.

The Department of Health and Social Care has stressed that strikes must be called off before negotiations can begin.