The NHS has issued an alert that some appointments may be changed or rescheduled next week due to a five-day strike by resident doctors, starting from 7am on Monday, June 15, until 7am on Friday, June 19. Patients are advised that they will be contacted if their appointment needs to be altered, and should continue to come forward for urgent care.
The industrial action, involving doctors formerly known as junior doctors, is part of an ongoing dispute over pay restoration and access to specialty training positions. The British Medical Association (BMA) argues that, despite recent pay increases including a 3.5% rise in April, doctors' earnings remain approximately 20% lower in real terms compared to 2008 when adjusted for inflation.
New doctors are calling for firm commitments to create more specialty training posts to address career bottlenecks. The government previously announced 1,000 extra posts but retracted them after the union announced strikes. The BMA has warned of further action in July if no progress is made in negotiations with Health Secretary James Murray.
The strike is expected to cause major disruption to non-urgent appointments across acute NHS hospital trusts in England. Elective procedures such as hip replacements, cataract surgeries, and routine scans are likely to face the highest cancellation rates, as consultants cover wards and operating theatres cannot function at full capacity.
Patients with appointments between June 15 and 19 should attend unless contacted otherwise. The NHS will use preferred contact methods, possibly multiple, to inform patients of any changes. If an appointment is cancelled, the NHS will rebook it as a priority for the next available slot. Patients whose health deteriorates while waiting should contact their GP or NHS 111, or attend A&E for life-threatening symptoms.
