The NHS has issued a warning to patients that appointments may be altered or cancelled during the week of June 15 to 19 due to industrial action by resident doctors. Many non-urgent cases could face delays as healthcare staff focus on emergency and critical care services.
Strike Action Details
In a statement posted on social media, the NHS confirmed: "Strike action starts from 7am Monday 15 June and runs until 7am Friday 19 June. Some NHS services will be affected." The health service assured patients that they would be contacted directly if their appointment needs to be rescheduled. It added: "Please continue to come forward for the care you need."
Why Are Resident Doctors Striking?
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are striking over a long-running dispute concerning pay restoration and access to specialty training positions. The British Medical Association (BMA) argues that despite recent pay increases, including a 3.5% uplift in April, doctors' real-terms take-home pay remains around 20% lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. The union is also demanding concrete commitments to create more specialty training posts to address career bottlenecks. The government previously offered 1,000 additional positions but withdrew them after the union called for strikes.
Impact on Patients
The five-day strike is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly for non-urgent appointments across acute NHS hospital trusts in England. Planned operations such as hip replacements, cataract surgeries, and routine scans are likely to be postponed. Hospitals will operate with reduced staff levels, as resident doctors constitute a large portion of the frontline medical workforce. Consultants will need to cover wards, limiting the capacity of operating theatres and outpatient clinics.
What Should Patients Do?
Patients with appointments scheduled between June 15 and 19 should attend as planned unless contacted by the NHS. The health service will reach out via their preferred contact method to reschedule if necessary. Methods of contact may include text message, phone call, notification through the NHS App, or in some cases, a formal letter. If an appointment is cancelled, the NHS is required to rebook it as a priority, automatically scheduling the next available slot. Patients whose health deteriorates while waiting for a new date should contact their GP or NHS 111. In case of severe, life-threatening symptoms, they should go to A&E immediately, as emergency departments remain open during the strike period.
