Resident Doctors are taking industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 17 December to 7am on Monday 22 December 2025.
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.
While we will do our best to only cancel appointments where it is necessary, we know from previous strikes that there will be disruption to patient appointments as a result of the strikes.
If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
During the strikes, there may be fewer doctors working than usual, and they will need to prioritise lifesaving care. Less urgent cases may experience longer waits during strikes.
The NHS is 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. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and as ever only using 999 if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency. More information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available on the nhs.uk website.
GP practices will continue to be open during the resident doctors strikes. Resident doctors who train in GP practices, known as GP registrars, may take strike action. While they are an important part of the practice team, the effective running of the practice is not dependent on them as they are considered ‘supernumerary’ to the workforce of the practice, meaning they are an additional member of staff. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.
The NHS is also asking the public to play their part during industrial action by looking after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
For more information about the resident doctors’ industrial action, including frequently asked questions, please visit the NHS website.