Patients warned of disruption as five-day doctor strike begins in England
Expect notable disruption as doctors initiate a five-day strike across England, with NHS leaders warning they may struggle to maintain as many services as in previous walkouts. NHS England stated that, amid a wave of flu placing further strain on hospitals, non-urgent services will be affected by the industrial action set to start at 07:00 on Wednesday.
This marks the 14th walkout by resident doctors—the term now used for junior doctors—in the ongoing pay dispute. Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused the strike of being timed to inflict maximum disruption and endanger patients, while the British Medical Association (BMA) said it would coordinate with NHS organizations to protect patient safety.
The action follows last-minute talks on Tuesday afternoon, described by the government as constructive but insufficient to call off the strike. Resident doctors account for nearly half of NHS doctors. They will take part in both emergency and non-urgent care, with senior clinicians brought in to provide cover.
In the two most recent strikes, in July and November, NHS England reported it could largely sustain non-urgent operations such as hip and knee replacements. This time, NHS England anticipates greater disruption, and there are concerns about hospitals’ ability to discharge patients before Christmas as some staff focus on strike coverage.
Medical director Prof Meghana Pandit noted the strikes come during an especially challenging period for the NHS, with record flu admissions. She said staff would rally together to deliver safe care and minimize disruption, though more patients are likely to feel the impact than in previous rounds, and staff covering shifts will miss their Christmas break.
Streeting commented that every effort had been made to avert strike action and that the period before Christmas and into the New Year is historically the busiest for the NHS. He added that the confluence of severe flu and strikes places additional pressure on other NHS staff.
GP practices will remain open, and urgent and emergency care will be available, though some disruption is anticipated. Cheltenham General Hospital’s emergency department will not treat emergencies during the strike (it will handle only minor injuries); patients are advised to go to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital instead. The public is encouraged to use the 111 online service for urgent, non-life-threatening issues during the strike. Emergency cases should still call 999 or attend A&E as usual.
The strike proceeds despite a government offer announced last week, which included extra specialty training posts and coverage for out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees. The jobs, which begin in year three of training after medical school, have become highly competitive: this year, about 30,000 applicants vied for 10,000 positions, including some international applicants.
Dr Tom Twentyman, who missed out on an emergency medicine post, described the job market as an “absolute nightmare.” He has been juggling locum shifts while applying for over 40 short-term hospital contracts nationwide and has since secured one, though it will not count toward his training, prompting plans to reapply next year. He observed that many job adverts were filled within hours of posting due to vast applicant numbers.
On Monday, the BMA announced its members voted to continue the strike, despite the government’s offer, after the union conducted an online member poll. BMA resident doctor leader Dr Jack Fletcher called the response a clear message that ministers must propose meaningful reforms to both pay and job creation.
Streeting has reiterated that he will not reopen pay negotiations while doctors have received roughly 30% in pay increases over the past three years. The BMA argues that even with this rise, resident doctors’ pay remains about 20% lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. Fletcher urged ministers to present a long-term plan that includes a transparent path to increasing pay over several years and a substantial number of new, genuinely available jobs so that further strikes could be avoided.
While the BMA emphasizes patient safety and ongoing coordination with NHS England to address safety concerns as they arise, the strike continues to unfold across the country.
