Don’t put off treatment during doctors’ strike, NHS tells patients

Don’t put off treatment during doctors’ strike, NHS tells patients

The NHS is encouraging patients to proceed with their required care without hesitation as a six-day strike by resident doctors in England begins on Tuesday. This is the 15th walkout in a dispute centered on pay and job opportunities, set to occur after the prolonged bank holiday weekend. NHS leaders warn that the anticipated increase in demand during this period could place considerable pressure on services.

Despite the strike, senior doctors and those not involved in the action will continue working. Patients are advised to attend scheduled appointments unless specifically informed of delays or cancellations. The British Medical Association (BMA) emphasized that while the NHS has contingency systems, the strikes will still cause some disruption, as stated by Dr. Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee.

Prof Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director for critical and perioperative care at NHS England, said: “The NHS has tried and tested systems to ensure all health services remain safe during industrial action. We are still open for business, and there are enough healthcare professionals available to care for you. If you have a planned appointment—unless notified of a postponement or cancellation—you should attend as usual. For emergencies or urgent conditions, follow your typical steps: call 111 or 999 for urgent care, go to A&E, or consult your GP or a local pharmacy for less critical issues.”

The strike, involving tens of thousands of doctors, will run from 07:00 BST on Tuesday to just before 07:00 on Monday, 13 April. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the action “disappointing,” focusing on maintaining service continuity to protect patients and staff. He noted that NHS England achieved nearly 95% of planned activities during the December strikes, showcasing the system’s adaptability.

Following the strike announcement, the government removed 1,000 additional training places from its offer. The Department of Health and Social Care explained that these positions were no longer financially or operationally feasible, though they would not reduce the total number of doctors in the NHS, as the roles would be integrated into existing temporary posts. The offer also included covering some incidental costs, such as exam fees, and accelerating pay increases through five salary bands, ranging from just under £39,000 to nearly £74,000.

The BMA ended talks, arguing that the pay progression terms were weakened at the last minute. The union pointed out that the 3.5% pay raise, while beneficial, still leaves resident doctors’ wages 20% below 2008 levels when adjusted for the RPI inflation measure—used by the government to calculate student loan interest.