The Government looks highly likely to impose a new contract on junior doctors after all last-minute talks failed to end in agreement.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will deliver a statement to the Commons around noon outlining how talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) have ended in a stalemate.
He has been given the backing of NHS England's chief executive, Simon Stevens, who said it was time to "end the uncertainty" and that drawn out strike action would only harm patients.
He said the NHS wished for a contract outlined by Sir David Dalton - who was drafted in to broker a deal - to be put in force.
He said: "Under these highly regrettable and entirely avoidable circumstances, hospitals are rightly calling for an end to the uncertainty, and the implementation of the compromise package the Dalton team are recommending."