Media Release

Strike action by resident doctors

Communications Teamby
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced strike action by resident doctors from 7am on Friday 25 July until 7am on Wednesday 30 July.

This will be the twelfth strike from resident doctors since March 2023. During these strikes, all other NHS staff – including consultants and other specialist doctors – will still be working, and the focus of the NHS will be on ensuring as many services as possible continue to operate safely.

Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

However, less urgent cases may experience longer waits during strikes – and we are asking patients to choose services appropriately during industrial action and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most.

How you can help us help you:

  • Only use 999 or our Emergency Department for life-threatening conditions, such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, stroke symptoms, or severe bleeding
  • Use NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or call 111 for urgent medical concerns that are not emergencies – they can provide advice or direct you to the right care
  • Continue to attend your medical appointment as planned unless you are contacted directly by the hospital to reschedule
  • Cancel any NHS appointments you cannot attend by using the contact number provided in your appointment letter – this allows us to offer that slot to another patient
  • Support others in looking after their mental health. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option
  • Visit your GP or speak to your local pharmacist for non-urgent health concerns

We would also ask the public to be kind and respectful to our staff, including those making rescheduling calls. These teams are working hard to rearrange appointments as quickly as possible and are doing everything they can to minimise disruption.

We thank our patients and local communities for their continued patience and understanding.

Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.