Tens of thousands of junior doctors with the NHS in England are to go on strike after the British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed it would be taking action.

This comes amid an escalating dispute between NHS workers and the government over pay, working conditions and patient safety.

The move was backed overwhelmingly by union members and represents only the second such time this kind of action has been taken in the last 74 years of the NHS.

It is understood that the next period of industrial action will take place over a 72-hour period in which no emergency care will be provided.

BMA slams Health Secretary for "silence and disregard" for doctors

The BMA attacked Health Secretary Steve Barcley for 'ignoring' invitations to meet with doctors interested in settling the dispute.

Prof Philip Banfield, the chair of the BMA, said at the weekend: “Doctors have never experienced so much stress, so much moral injury from not being able to undertake the care that they’re so desperate to give".

Adding that the minister refuses to enter “meaningful negotiations”, ensuring an "escalation" of the crisis through his "silence and disregard" for staff.

READ MORE: Junior doctors in England set to strike on March 15

NHS to undergo unprecedented disruption amid junior doctors strikes

The strike action will involve some 45,000 junior doctors and will be the longest-ever continuous strike by any healthcare workers in England.

This will leave the NHS to deal with massive disruption.

When are junior doctors going on strike in England?

Junior doctors who are members of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) have previously announced that will strike for the first time in the Union's history on March 15.

However, the BMA has not announced a concrete date for action with the strikes taking place in early March.

The union have said that they will give "at least the two weeks notice required by law".

This comes after tens of thousands of nurses in cancer wards, A&E departments and intensive care units in England said they would strike for 48 hours from March 1.

Ambulance workers in England and Wales are also striking on March 6 and 20.