NHS England warns patients not to delay care ahead of ‘difficult’ six-day strike

It’s the latest strike in a three-year long dispute (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images)

People across England are being urged not to delay seeking medical care ahead of a six-day doctors’ strike set to begin this week.

NHS England said patients should continue to come forward for treatment, attend appointments as planned, and seek urgent or emergency care as they normally would over the coming days..

This industrial action – the 15th in a long-running dispute over pay and job opportunities – comes immediately after the Easter bank holiday weekend, which officials say could make the situation ‘particularly challenging’.

What date are doctors going on strike?

Tens of thousands of resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, will strike from 7am on Tuesday, April 7 until just before 7am on Monday, April 13.

Doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said the walkout ‘would bring disruption,’ but NHS England has assured it can keep the vast majority of services running for patients.

Still, there will be a smaller number of doctors available during this time, and as they may have to prioritise life-saving care, wait times could be longer for ‘less urgent cases’.

Resident doctors last walked out in December (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)

Professor Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director for critical and perioperative care, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The NHS is still open for business and there are still plenty of people there available to care for you.

‘If you have a planned appointment – unless you have been specifically told that it has been postponed or cancelled – you should attend as you normally would.’

Despite noting that this round of industrial action would be ‘difficult’, she urged people to ‘come forward as normal and attend any appointments unless they are contacted otherwise.’

‘As ever, please call 999 or come to A&E in an emergency, and use 111 online first if you need urgent but not life-threatening help,’ Moonesinghe added.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the strike as ‘disappointing’, saying the priority now is ‘protecting patients and staff’.

He also highlighted that the NHS managed to deliver nearly 95% of planned activity during similar strikes in December, and expressed confidence the health service would continue to function effectively.

Why are NHS doctors going on strike?

This comes three years into the ongoing dispute, with talks breaking down in March after the government withdrew part of its proposal to doctors, including plans for 1,000 additional training places and faster pay progression through the five salary bands that span training.

The BMA is also pushing for a pay rise above the 3.5% currently offered, arguing that it still represents a cut when inflation is taken into account.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the union’s resident doctors committee, said: ‘The health secretary may well be “disappointed”, but he is failing to acknowledge a deal was taking shape until his government quietly watered it down, reducing the money on the table, then stretching what was left over too many years to make it worthwhile.

‘Resident doctors are as keen as he is to bring an end to the strikes, but his government needs to put an offer on the table that we can accept and which doesn’t change at the last minute.

‘Many senior doctors will be covering for us and whilst that benefits patients, we know they are also exhausted and as demoralised as we are.’

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