The NHS is asking people across England not to delay seeking medical care while resident doctors carry out industrial action this week.
The strike begins at 7:00 on Tuesday 7 April and ends at 6:59 on Monday 13 April. Hospitals nationwide have plans to reduce disruption and will prioritise emergency and urgent care, cancer treatments and maternity services. During the five-day strikes in December the NHS maintained almost 95% of planned activity, and teams aim to keep as much planned care running as possible this time too.
This round of action is expected to be particularly testing because it comes on short notice, covers bank holidays and falls during the Easter period. Despite those challenges, trusts are preparing to continue urgent and emergency services as normal and to protect priority treatments, including urgent surgery and cancer care, wherever possible. Patients should attend booked appointments unless they have been contacted and asked to reschedule.
GP practices, NHS 111 and urgent and emergency departments will remain available. If you need urgent but non-life-threatening help, use NHS 111 online first to be directed to the right service. For life‑threatening emergencies, call 999 or go to A&E as usual.
Professor Ramani Moonesinghe, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Critical and Perioperative Care, said staff will be working to keep patients safe and ensure access to necessary care. She reminded people to come forward as normal and to use 111 online for urgent, non-life-threatening needs, and to call 999 or attend A&E in an emergency.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting expressed disappointment that strikes are going ahead and said leaders are focused on protecting patients and staff by minimising disruption. He noted the offer made to resident doctors, which the government says would have increased average pay by around 35.2% compared with four years ago, and thanked NHS staff for their continued dedication during the action.