Resident Doctor Industrial Action (7-13 April)

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced strike action by resident doctors, which is due to take place from 7am on Monday 7 April until 7am on Sunday 13 April.

We know that industrial action can be worrying for patients and their families, particularly as this period follows a busy winter for the NHS and coincides with the Easter holiday period. Our priority throughout this time is to ensure that patients continue to receive safe care.

During the strikes, all other NHS staff – including consultants, nurses and other specialist colleagues – will continue to work. We are putting robust plans in place to maintain services wherever it is safe to do so, with a clear focus on emergency and life‑saving care.

Dr Di Adamson, UHNM Chief Medical Officer said: “Our absolute priority is the safety of our patients. We have detailed plans in place and senior doctors and clinical teams will continue to provide emergency and urgent care throughout the strike period. If you need urgent or life‑saving treatment, please come forward as you normally would.”

We will do everything possible to minimise disruption, but as with previous strikes, some non‑urgent appointments and procedures may need to be postponed.

• If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.
• If your appointment needs to be rescheduled because of the strikes, the NHS will contact you directly.

During the most recent period of resident doctor industrial action in December 2025, almost 95% of planned routine care continued as scheduled, thanks to the commitment and teamwork of NHS staff. However, there may be fewer doctors working than usual during the strikes, and clinical teams will need to prioritise life‑saving and emergency care. This means that patients with less urgent needs may experience longer waiting times.

Dr Adamson said: “We also ask the public to play their part during industrial action by looking after themselves and checking in on vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours where possible. Use NHS 111 online as your first port of call for urgent health advice and call 999 if it is a serious or life‑threatening emergency.”

If you are travelling away from home during this period:

• If you need a routine GP appointment while staying elsewhere in England, contact your own GP surgery.
• Prescriptions can be sent to a pharmacy of your choice.
• Make sure you have enough of your regular medications. Repeat prescriptions can be ordered via the NHS App, your GP practice website, or by contacting your surgery directly.
• Consider having a well‑stocked first aid kit. Guidance on what to include is available on the NHS website, www.nhs.uk

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we continue to work hard to keep patients safe and services running during this period of industrial action.