The British Medical Association is planning aresident doctors' strike that is expected to startat 7am on Tuesday, April 7, and last until 7am on Monday, April 13. Theplanned walkoutwill place further strain on the health service, particularly after the Easter bank holiday weekend, when demand is usually increased.

Ahead of the strike, patients have been advised what to expect and where to get help. Brits have been urged to be conscious of how they use the NHS during the strike, with doctors prioritising life-saving care.

The strike will have an impact on every hospital in England. People who have hospital appointments planned during the strike have been told the NHS will only cancel when absolutely necessary.

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This will likely be via text, call or letter and you should be offered an alternative date for your appointment. The NHS has warned patients may not receive much notice of a postponement during the strike.

Rescheduled appointments will also be treated as a priority. If you are not contacted by the NHS to reschedule, you’ll likely be able to attend your appointment as planned. During the strike action in December 2025, NHS figures note almost 95 per cent of planned routine care was able to continue as normal.

Hospital inpatients will be informed of how their care will be impacted. This may differ from ward to ward in each hospital based on the staff involved in delivering care.

GP and dental practices may be less affected by the strike. People are urged to attend these appointments as normal unless your practice has contacted you to say otherwise. Patients needing repeat prescription medications may be able to get these through the NHS app or their GP practice website.

NHS England noted: “Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.

“The NHS is also asking the public to play their part during industrial action by looking after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.”

With doctors prioritising life-saving care, less urgent cases may face longer waits. People with non-life-threatening issues have been told to try 111 online or the NHS app as a first port of call.

Patients experience an emergency should call 999 if they are seriously ill, injured or there is a risk to life. If you are unsure if you need to go to A&E you can call 111 or use the online service.

The NHS has further guidance online on when to call 999or go to A&Eand the procedures people will face when using these emergency services.