The NHS is asking people to continue coming forward for care as thousands of resident doctors plan to strike from 07:00 on Friday 14 November until 07:00 on Wednesday 19 November. Hospital teams are working round the clock to limit disruption and maintain essential services.
Trusts say life‑saving care will continue as normal and have been directed to keep routine operations running where possible. The aim is for about 95% of elective activity to go ahead; appointments will only be rescheduled in exceptional cases for patient safety.
NHS leaders warn the industrial action arrives at a difficult time, with flu cases expected to peak shortly after the strike. During the previous round of action in July, NHS contingency plans kept services operating so that over 10,000 more patients received care than during the comparable five days of industrial action in summer 2024. The service was able to maintain the majority of operations, tests and procedures while handling urgent and emergency cases.
The public is advised to attend planned appointments unless contacted to reschedule. Primary, urgent and emergency care services will remain available. For urgent but non‑life‑threatening problems during the strikes, people should use 111 online for guidance on the most appropriate service. In an emergency, members of the public should call 999 or go to A&E.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England National Medical Director, said it was frustrating and disappointing to face another round of industrial action at a time of rising respiratory illness and likely staff absences. She stressed staff are working hard to maintain care and keep disruption to a minimum, and reiterated that in an emergency people should call 999 or use 111 online, or consult a pharmacist or GP for other concerns.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the NHS is resilient and is aiming to keep 95% of planned care running. He noted the last round of action cut cancellations by around 11,000 versus earlier strikes and saved millions of pounds, thanked staff for their efforts, and criticised the BMA for not putting the government offer to members. He urged resident doctors not to strike and to attend work to care for patients.
This is the 13th round of strikes by resident doctors since March 2023, amounting to 54 days of disruption. Resident doctors, formerly called junior doctors, make up roughly half of NHS doctors and typically have up to eight years of hospital experience depending on specialty, or up to three years in general practice.
