Patients told to brace for disruption as doctors begin five-day strike
Hospitals brace for impact as England’s resident doctors embark on a five-day walkout, with NHS leaders warning that services will be affected more than in recent stoppages. The strike coincides with a flu surge, increasing pressure on hospital wards.
NHS England confirmed that non-urgent services will be scaled back during the strike, which starts at 07:00 on Wednesday. This marks the 14th walkout by resident doctors—the junior tier of the medical workforce—over the years-long pay dispute.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting argued the timing is designed to maximize disruption and risk to patients, while the British Medical Association (BMA) said it will work with NHS bodies to safeguard patient safety.
The strike followed last-minute talks on Tuesday afternoon. Government officials described those discussions as constructive, but not sufficient to suspend the action.
Resident doctors constitute almost half of NHS doctors. They will withdraw from both emergency and non-urgent care, with senior doctors stepping in to provide cover.
During previous strikes in July and November, NHS England said most non-urgent operations—such as hip and knee replacements—went ahead. This time, authorities warn there could be greater disruption, and there are concerns about hospitals discharging patients in time for Christmas as strike-cover duties take precedence for those on duty.
Medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said: “These strikes come at an incredibly challenging moment for the NHS, which faces record flu admissions for this time of year. Staff will rally together to maintain safe care and minimize disruption, but more patients are likely to feel the impact of this round.” She added that staff covering shifts will miss their Christmas breaks with families.
Streeting commented that efforts to avert the strikes had continued up to the last moment. He noted that the pre-Christmas period is typically the NHS’s busiest, and that the combination of severe flu and industrial action adds pressure on other NHS staff.
NHS England emphasised that GP practices will remain open and that urgent and emergency care will still be available. However, some disruption is unavoidable. For example, Cheltenham General Hospital’s emergency department will close for emergencies during the strike, remaining open for minor injuries and advising patients to go to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for more serious needs.
The public was urged to use the 111 online service for urgent, non-life-threatening concerns during the strike. Those needing emergency care should still call 999 or attend A&E as usual.
The strike proceeds despite a new government offer announced last week, which included more specialty training posts and coverage of out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees. The job market for specialty training positions has become intensely competitive, with about 30,000 applicants for 10,000 posts this year, including some candidates from abroad.
Dr Tom Twentyman, who missed out on an emergency medicine post, described the job hunt as an “absolute nightmare.” He now juggles locum shifts while applying for more than 40 short-term hospital contracts—one of which he has finally secured, though it won’t count toward his training. He notes that some adverts were pulled within hours of posting due to overwhelming applications.
On Monday, the BMA voted to continue the strike, rejecting the government’s offer in a supportive online member poll. BMA resident doctor leader Dr Jack Fletcher called the result a “resounding response” and urged the government to address pay and, crucially, job creation. He argued that a clear, long-term plan is overdue and emphasized the need for genuinely new roles rather than recycled positions; otherwise, further strikes could follow.
Streeting has reiterated that the government will not discuss pay terms, noting that doctors have received nearly 30% in increases over three years. The BMA contends that, after inflation, resident doctors’ pay remains about 20% lower than in 2008.
Dr Fletcher stressed the importance of patient safety and said the BMA would maintain close contact with NHS England during the strikes to address any safety concerns as they arise.
