Junior doctors in England are to strike in December and January, the British Medical Association has said.
The fresh rounds are to be staged following union and Government talks which recently broke down.
BMA junior doctors committee co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: “We have been clear from the outset of these talks that we needed to move at pace and if we did not have a credible offer, we would be forced to call strikes."
The decision follows "five weeks of intense talks".
Thousands of routine procedures undertaken by junior doctors may soon be rescheduled.
Why are junior doctors striking?
Junior doctors will be striking in a bid for higher pay, having been given an average pay rise in the summer of 8.8 per cent and an offer of 3 per cent, which they have rejected. The union has described the offer as "unevenly spread" across doctors' grades.
Dr Trivedi said: “It is a great shame that even though the approach was more constructive, there was not enough on offer to shape a credible deal, which we hoped would end the dispute. Without enough progress by the deadline, we have no choice but to take action that demonstrates doctors are as determined as ever in reversing their pay cuts.
“However, we can still avoid the need for these strikes. We will be ready and willing any time the Government wants to talk. If a credible offer can be presented the day before, or even during any action, these strikes can be cancelled."
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said the Government would “immediately look to come back to the table” if the junior doctors’ strikes were called off but stressed that extra pressure would be placed on the NHS during this period.
When are the strikes?
The walkouts, which will be part of the longest period of industrial action in the history of the health service, will begin on December 20 and will last for three days before beginning again on January 3, lasting for six days in a row.
The strikes will end on January 9, the BMA said on Tuesday. On all nine days, they will begin at 7am.
