Junior doctors in England began strike action at 7.00am on 20 December, running until 7.00am on 23 December, NHS England announced. The NHS said consultants would step in to cover for junior doctors, who make up 50% of the medical workforce, and that urgent and emergency care would be prioritised1.
NHS England, in a statement published on 19 December, said the latest strikes were expected to cause widespread disruption, from the impact on almost all routine care to an extra administrative burden and difficulties with discharging patients. It said that in more than a full calendar year of action, strikes had seen more than 1.1 million inpatient and outpatient appointments rescheduled1.
A further strike is planned after Christmas and New Year. NHS England said the longest action ever by junior doctors is planned from 7.00am on 3 January to 7.00am on 9 January, meaning that in the coming three weeks only four weekdays in the NHS are unaffected by holidays or industrial action1.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:
"Over the holiday period, I would encourage anyone who needs medical help to continue to come forward, in a life-threatening emergency, call 999 and use A&E in the usual way. For everything else, use 111 online."
The NHS said people should continue to use services as they normally would when they need urgent medical help, using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies1.
Why it matters for households
The disruption affects households in England who need NHS care over the Christmas and New Year period, including those with routine appointments and those needing urgent help. NHS England said almost all routine care would be affected during the December strike, with consultants covering urgent and emergency care1. The service advises people needing medical help to come forward, to call 999 and use A&E in life threatening emergencies, and to use 111 online for everything else1. The health emergencies hub covers what to expect when health services are under pressure.
What happens next
The December strike ends at 7.00am on 23 December. A further strike is planned from 7.00am on 3 January to 7.00am on 9 January, described by NHS England as the longest action ever by junior doctors1.
