Junior doctors across England have launched a four-day strike this morning (April 11) amid a worsening dispute over pay. 

Huge disruptions are expected within the NHS with an estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, to be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Experts have warned the strike action could have such an impact, patients could die as a result.

Dr Hilary Jones MBE, was asked on Good Morning Britain (GMB) on Tuesday: "Are people going to die as a result of this strike action".

He said: "Yes, I believe they are because treatment will be delayed.

"If you've got one doctor trying to look after 10 patients and they're all acutely ill, you can't get to them all at the same time. 

"This (strike action) is disruptive, this is dangerous, this has never been more dangerous."

Why are junior doctors striking?

The strikes centre around a pay row between the BMA and Government, with the union claiming junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation.

The union has asked for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35% pay rise – which ministers have said is unaffordable.

BMA officials said the pay issue is making it harder to recruit and retain junior doctors.

This is not the first strike action junior doctors have taken, with BMA members having previously walked out for three days in March.

What is a junior doctor's salary?

According to the BMA website the basic pay for doctors in training can range from between £29,384 to £58,398 per annum.

Foundation doctors in year 1 get a salary of £29,384 per annum, while in year 2 that figure increases to £34,012.

Doctors in training in the speciality register category (core training), start at £40,257 before moving up to £51,017. 

Junior doctors in the speciality register category (run-through and higher training) can move up a further pay tier to £58,398.

As part of a new advertising campaign in support of the pay dispute by junior doctors in England, the BMA broke these salaries down.

The BMA said three junior doctors would make just £66.55 between them for taking out your appendix.

Three doctors with 10, seven and one years of experience would make just £28, £24.46, and £14.09 respectively by performing the potentially life-saving procedure, the trade union for doctors said in a press release.