Getting the help you need during the doctors’ strike

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that their resident doctor members will strike for six days from 7am Tuesday 7 April until 7am Monday 13 April.

We all know that industrial action comes at a very real cost to patients and the rest of the workforce and this round of action comes as the NHS is managing a busy period after the long Bank Holiday weekend

Resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors) are fully trained doctors with up to eight years of experience – they account for around 50% of doctors working in the NHS. This means that NHS services will be under a huge amount of pressure leading up to, and during the strike. Hospitals will be doing everything they can to keep disruption to a minimum and ensure the safety of patients.

NHS teams continue to work hard to minimise disruption from the industrial action but it is expected that there will be a significant impact on local health services.

Some hospital appointments and planned treatment may need to be rearranged. Healthcare teams will contact people as soon as possible if your appointment needs to be changed. If you do not hear from your healthcare team your appointment will be going ahead as planned.

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

NHS 111

If you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999.

999

People should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk). They should take advice from 111 / 999 call-handlers on whether there are circumstances where it is suitable for them to make their own way to hospital.

During strike days, it is likely 999 call handlers will be very busy. NHS 111 call centres will have fewer staff, with longer call response times expected across the system. As a result, we are urging anyone with non-urgent care need to first seek help from NHS 111 online.

A range of local services will continue to be available to meet your healthcare needs during the industrial action, including GP practices and community pharmacies, though these services may also be impacted by strike action.

Your GP

The majority of practices in West Yorkshire will remain open during the strike, though many will be under increased pressure. Do continue to attend your GP and dental appointments unless you have been contacted and told otherwise.

Your local pharmacy

Pharmacists are trained health professionals who can help with your medication questions and minor health concerns such as headaches, sore throats and aches and pains. They can also prescribe medication, if needed, for a number of common conditions, including urinary tract infections, shingles, sinusitis, earache and infected insect bites. Many offer private consultations without an appointment, and can advise where to get further help if you need it.

If you’re worried about your child’s health, you can find online healthcare advice recommended by local healthcare professionals at wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk

The NHS is also asking the public to play their part by taking simple steps during industrial action to look after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.

For information about a range of local services, including mental health support, please visit LYPFT’s Urgent Help web page or Advice and support.

FAQs

What is happening?

Resident doctors who are members of the BMA have voted to take strike action. We and other NHS employers have been formally notified of a period of strike action beginning at 7am Tuesday 7 April until 7am Monday 13 April.

What do strikes mean for NHS services in my area?

The strikes announced cover resident doctors across the NHS. This means action will impact every hospital in England. We are working hard to minimise the impact this action has on patients, but this will inevitably cause disruption during the strike period, and is likely to have a longer term impact on our services due to the additional resources required to keep services going safely. Thanks to the actions of NHS staff during the period of industrial action in November, and specifically the willingness of many colleagues – including many resident doctors – to work extra shifts, the NHS managed to ‘safely keep the show on the road’ despite industrial action, with data showing more than 95% of planned elective activity going ahead for patients.

What does this mean for care?

During these strikes, all other NHS staff (including consultants, GPs and other specialist doctors) will still be working. The NHS is working hard to minimise the impact on patients and make sure there are safe levels of staffing in key services patients need. However, we know from previous strikes that there will be significant disruption, and we will make sure patients and the local community know how this might affect them.

Can the NHS provide safe services during strikes?

The NHS is working hard to minimise the risk to patient safety. It’s important that patients do not put off seeking urgent care, or not attend planned appointments unless they have been told otherwise.

What if I need urgent or emergency care?

Anyone who needs urgent care should use NHS111 online or through the NHS App to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. If you do not have internet access, then the free, 24/7 111 phone line is also available.

When someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should seek emergency care in the normal way, by calling 999.

What is considered an emergency?

Patients should only call 999 if seriously ill or injured, and there is risk to life. Ambulances will be dispatched where clinically appropriate. For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.

What does this mean for pre-planned appointments, tests and procedures?

We are working hard to minimise the impact on planned care. Patients with appointments booked on strike days will be contacted if their appointment needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action. If they have not been contacted, they should attend their appointment as planned.

When will I find out if my appointment is rescheduled?

The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. This is likely to be a text, phone call or a letter and you should be offered an alternative date for your appointment. If you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.

If my appointment is rescheduled, will I be put back to the bottom of the waiting list?

Any appointments that need to be rescheduled will be done so as a priority.

Should I cancel my appointment on the day of strikes?

No, if you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned.

I have a loved one who will be a hospital inpatient on strike day – how will their care be affected?

All hospital inpatients will be informed of how their care will be impacted on a ward-by-ward basis by the staff involved in delivering their care.

Will GP or dental services be affected on strike days?

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. Please continue to attend your GP and dental appointments, unless you are contacted and told otherwise.

Page last updated: 30th Mar 2026 2:47pm