Resident doctors begin five-day strike across NHS England

Resident doctors across NHS England began industrial action at 7am on Wednesday 17 December 2025, with the strike due to continue until 7am on Monday 22 December¹. NHS England said thousands of resident doctors were expected to walk out, and that hospital teams across the country were working to minimise disruption for patients¹. The action is the 14th round of strikes by resident doctors since March 2023, amounting to 59 days of disruption to NHS services¹.

The strike comes during an early flu season. NHS England reported an average of 2,660 patients per day in a hospital bed with flu in the week to 11 December, the highest ever for that time of year and up 55% on the previous week³. Norovirus patients in hospital beds rose by 35% to an average of 354 each day that week³. A&E attendances were a record for November at 2.35 million, more than 30,000 higher than November 2024, and there were 48,814 more ambulance incidents than the year before (802,525 against 753,711)³. By the end of the following week, flu cases in hospital reached 3,140, the highest ever for the time of year and up 18% on the week before, though NHS England said there were welcome signs the rise was slowing².

NHS England said plans were in place to continue life-saving care while keeping as much routine care and scheduled operations going as possible, and that appointments should only be rescheduled in the interests of patient safety¹. It said there may be fewer doctors working than usual and that less urgent cases may experience longer waits¹. GP practices, pharmacies and urgent and emergency care services remain available¹.

On vaccination, NHS England reported 451,275 flu vaccines delivered in the first week of December, up 28,000 on the equivalent week in 2024 (422,934), and more than 17.4 million delivered so far this year, 170,000 more than at the same point last year, including over 60,000 frontline healthcare workers¹. Free flu jabs continue to be offered at community pop-up clinics such as Christmas markets, shopping centres and sports matches in the lead up to Christmas and new year².

Why it matters for households

NHS England advises the public to attend planned appointments during the strike unless contacted by the NHS and told otherwise, and says appointments should only be rescheduled in the interests of patient safety¹. It advises people to use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues so they can be directed to the best place for their needs, and to continue to use 999 or attend A&E as normal for emergency medical care¹. It also asks the public to look after themselves and loved ones, check in on vulnerable family members and neighbours, and get a flu vaccine if eligible and not yet vaccinated¹. Professor Pandit said more patients are likely to feel the impact of this round of strikes than in the previous two¹. The health emergencies hub covers wider planning for health service disruption.

What happens next

The strike is due to end at 7am on Monday 22 December¹. NHS England said flu cases were still rising, though the rise in hospital cases was slowing, and that vaccination remained the best way to protect against getting sick with flu, with the offer still open to eligible people².