NHS England Prepares for Five-Day Strike by Resident Doctors, Urges Public to Keep Seeking Care

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has assured hospital leaders that the government has their backs in the event of staff shortages during the five-day strike by resident doctors. The strike, beginning on Friday, is expected to impact non-urgent services, but emergency care and A&E will remain available. NHS England has emphasized that hospitals have prepared contingency plans to minimize disruption to patient care, ensuring life-saving services continue uninterrupted. The British Medical Association (BMA) has expressed concerns that NHS England's plan to continue routine operations and appointments poses a risk to patient safety.

Key Takeaways:

• The five-day strike by resident doctors, starting on Friday, is expected to impact non-urgent services but not emergency care and A&E.
• Hospitals have prepared contingency plans to minimize disruption to patient care and ensure life-saving services continue uninterrupted.
• NHS England has urged the public to continue seeking care during the strike, advising them to use 111 online, local pharmacists, or GPs, and only to attend NHS appointments unless told otherwise.
• The BMA has expressed concerns that NHS England's plan to continue routine operations and appointments poses a risk to patient safety.
• The strike was triggered by a pay dispute, with the BMA stating that they had always said that no doctor wants to strike and that all it would take to avoid it is a credible path to pay restoration offered by the government.
• Research suggests public support for the strike is waning, with a YouGov poll showing that 52% of people in the UK oppose the strike, while 34% support it.
• The BMA has pointed out that strikes by resident doctors in June led to 61,989 inpatient and outpatient appointments being rescheduled, and since the end of 2022, almost 1.5 million appointments have been rescheduled as a result of industrial action.

Statistics:

• 61,989 inpatient and outpatient appointments were rescheduled in June as a result of resident doctor strikes.
• Almost 1.5 million appointments have been rescheduled since the end of 2022 due to industrial action.
• 52% of people in the UK oppose the strike, with 34% supporting it, according to a YouGov poll.
• 28.9% pay rise was given to resident doctors in the last three years.
• Strike action is expected to take a toll on patients and NHS staff, with 23% of people in the UK opposing the strike, and 11% strongly opposing it.

Sources:

• "The public should keep seeking NHS care during strike, NHS England says" - Times newspaper.
• "We have your backs: Wes Streeting tells hospital leaders ahead of five-day strike by resident doctors" - The BMA (@TheBMA) July 21, 2025.
• "NHS England to carry on with business as usual despite doctors' strike" - The BMA (@TheBMA) July 21, 2025.
• "BMA urges public to seek alternative healthcare during strike" - The BMA (@TheBMA) July 21, 2025.
• YouGov poll, 4,954 adults surveyed, reported in The Times.