Junior doctors are planned to take strike action in England from 7.00am on 3 January to 7.00am on 9 January 2024, NHS England announced on 19 December 2023. The health service described it as "the longest action ever by junior doctors"1.
The announcement came alongside a shorter strike from 7.00am on Wednesday to 7.00am on Saturday 23 December1. NHS England said that across the coming three weeks, only four weekdays in the NHS would be unaffected by holidays or industrial action1. In more than a full calendar year of action, strikes have seen more than 1.1 million inpatient and outpatient appointments rescheduled1.
NHS England said consultants would step in to cover for junior doctors, who make up 50% of the medical workforce, and that the NHS would prioritise urgent and emergency care1. It said the latest strikes were expected to cause widespread disruption, from the impact on almost all routine care to an extra admin burden and difficulties with discharging patients1.
"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."
| Period | Strike dates and times |
|---|---|
| Before Christmas | 7.00am Wednesday to 7.00am Saturday 23 December1 |
| After New Year | 7.00am 3 January to 7.00am 9 January 20241 |
Why it matters for households
The action covers six days in early January, a period when NHS England says demand starts to rise significantly1. The NHS said it would prioritise urgent and emergency care while consultants cover for junior doctors, and that almost all routine care would be affected, with difficulties discharging patients1. NHS England reminded people to continue to use services as they normally would when they need urgent medical help, using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies1. Its national medical director encouraged anyone who needs medical help over the holiday period to continue to come forward, calling 999 and using A&E in a life-threatening emergency and using 111 online for everything else1. Households can follow service updates through the staying-informed hub.
What happens next
The planned action runs from 7.00am on 3 January to 7.00am on 9 January 20241. No further strike dates beyond that period have been reported.
