Nearly 600 hospital appointments were postponed in south west Hertfordshire during the two-day strike.

Eighty operations were also put back by the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust after junior doctors walked out on Tuesday and Wednesday.

One senior doctor working within the A&E department told the Watford Observer on Tuesday that there was sufficient staff to treat patients effectively in accident and emergency.

The number of people visiting Watford General Hospital had also dropped.

It was the first time services such as accident and emergency, maternity and intensive care have been hit in the dispute.

The NHS had five weeks to prepare for the strike. Thousands of appointments were cancelled across the UK and this meant consultants and nurses were free to work in emergency care.

Emergency protocols were also in place whereby hospitals can call for junior doctors to return to work if patients are at risk. But no NHS trust has used this rule.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust warned patients that patients may face delays during the two days of strike action.

Last Sunday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt rejected suggestions of trialling the new contract, and insisted he would impose it.

The British Medical Association said they would call off the strike if the health secretary said would re-enter talks with the union.