Resident doctor strikes begin in England for six days

Resident doctors in England began industrial action at 7am on Tuesday 7 April 2026, with the strike running for six days until 6:59am on Monday 13 April, NHS England announced. The British Medical Association has announced the action, according to Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust¹. NHS England said hospital teams across the country are working to minimise disruption for patients².

NHS England described this round as expected to be particularly challenging, citing the shorter notice period, which also includes bank holidays, and the action falling during the Easter holiday². It said it has previously kept the vast majority of services running during strikes, including maintaining almost 95% of planned care during the five-day action in December². Trusts are also working to protect priority treatments, including urgent surgery and cancer care, wherever possible during the strike period².

The two sources give slightly different end times: NHS England states the action runs until 6:59am on Monday 13 April, while Hampshire Hospitals states it runs until 7am on Monday 13 April 2026².

NHS England set out which services remain available and how patients should use them²:

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said it was disappointing that the BMA had decided to press ahead with strikes despite a deal that "would have seen resident doctors 35.2% better off, on average, than they were four years ago"². He said attention was now on protecting patients and staff by minimising disruption, and that the NHS delivered almost 95% of planned activity during December strikes².

Why it matters for households

The action affects NHS services across England from 7am on 7 April to 6:59am on 13 April 2026². NHS England advises patients to attend planned appointments unless they have been contacted to reschedule, and states that GP practices, NHS 111 and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available during the strike period². It advises anyone who needs urgent but not life-threatening care to use 111 online in the first instance, where they will be directed to the most appropriate service, and says patients with life-threatening emergencies should continue to call 999 or attend A&E as normal².

Hampshire Hospitals advises people to use the right service for their needs during the industrial action and to keep emergency services free for those who need them most¹. It states that NHS 111 is available 24/7 by phone, online or via the NHS App, and that community pharmacists are trained to manage minor illnesses and can offer some prescription medicines for seven common conditions, such as UTIs, sore throats and sinusitis¹. It also notes that the NHS App can be used to order repeat prescriptions and manage appointments, and that to use it you must be aged 13 or over and registered with a GP surgery in England¹. Further detail on these routes is set out in the guide to what Pharmacy First is and what a pharmacist can treat, and the health emergencies hub covers wider health alert guidance.

What happens next

The industrial action is scheduled to end at 6:59am on Monday 13 April 2026, per NHS England, or 7am the same day, per Hampshire Hospitals². No further strike dates have been reported in these sources.