Junior doctor strikes have cost the NHS about £1 billion, according to a senior health boss, as a fifth round of industrial action threatens further disruption to patient care.Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said hospital trusts were having to "pay premium rates to consultants" to cover the roles of junior doctors while they were on picket lines.The walkouts are expected to lead to a million procedures and appointments being cancelled and rearranged by the time the round of

Junior doctor strikes have cost the NHS about £1 billion, according to a senior health boss, as a fifth round of industrial action threatens further disruption to patient care.Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said hospital trusts were having to "pay premium rates to consultants" to cover the roles of junior doctors while they were on picket lines.The walkouts are expected to lead to a million procedures and appointments being cancelled and rearranged by the time the round of action is over in four days, he said.