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Frequent strikes by health workers are making workloads “more challenging,” the chief executive said NHS England said.
Amanda Pritchard said the ongoing strike was “clearly having an impact”.
Thousands of nurses across England will go on strike on Wednesday and Thursday this week, and around 1,000 ambulance staff in Wales will walk out on Thursday.
Thousands of operations and jobs are expected to be cut over the next few months, but Pritchard said he was hopeful the industry action would be resolved.
“It’s going to get more challenging as the strike action drags on and those days get closer, no doubt,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Saturday. “It’s clearly having an impact. I think that’s clear.
“My sense is that everyone is looking to try and come to a decision,” she added.
Health leaders said emergency services were facing “exciting levels of stress” and more hospital beds were “desperately needed”.
Delayed discharges are among the pressures facing the NHS this winter, including a shortage of beds, a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections, the worst flu season for a decade and ongoing strikes.
Monday 6 February could be the biggest strike the NHS has ever seen. unite New ambulance staff unveils walk-ins.
Thousands of nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) planned to go on strike on 6 and 7 February, and GMB Fellowship Earlier this week, it announced that ambulance crews would be joining on February 6.
Unit said on Friday. Workers from five ambulance trusts in England and Wales will join the February 6 strike..