A striking trainee anaesthetist warned on Tuesday (April 11) that the NHS staff retention problem is "only going to get worse" without pay negotiation.

Ada Zembrzycka, who works at Whipps Cross Hospital in London, said "junior doctors have suffered a 26% pay cut over the last 15 years. We are not worth any less than our colleagues were in 2008".

She added, "we really want the government and [health secretary] Mr Barclay to come to the table with a credible offer and hopefully resolve this dispute as soon as possible".

"There is a problem in the NHS with retention of staff - that includes junior doctors - and without any renegotiations on the pay, it's just not going to get resolved, and it's only going to get worse".

Thousands took part in a rally in central London on Tuesday (April 11) as junior doctors began their 96-hour walkout over pay.

Junior doctors are demanding a 35% pay rise, but the government says unless the BMA union ditches its 35% starting position, there will be no pay talks.