The British Medical Association has announced five days of strike action by resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors. There will be a full walkout beginning at 07:00 on Friday 25 July 2025 and ending at 07:00 on Wednesday 30 July 2025.
The mid and south Essex healthcare system has been preparing ahead of this latest round of strikes, and hospitals and local teams have plans in place to minimise the disruption to patient care and ensure life-saving care continues.
Local NHS services will be working hard to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment and critical care services, and to minimise the impact on patients waiting for planned care. However, it is anticipated that both routine and emergency care may be affected during strike action.
GP practices will be operating as normal during the strike action although some GP trainees may also be on strike alongside resident doctors. Please be patient as local healthcare teams work diligently to handle a high volume of calls and prioritise care.
In order to prioritise life-saving emergency treatment for people who need it, some non-urgent operations, treatments and routine appointments may be postponed. Where this is the case, patients will be contacted directly.
The NHS is asking the public to continue to attend any planned appointments they have scheduled over the strike period unless they have been contacted to reschedule.
Patients are kindly asked not to call to check if their appointment is going ahead – the NHS will contact patients if their appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
It is essential that residents who need care during strike action continue to come forward for care as normal, especially in emergency and life-saving cases.
Local pharmacies, GP practices, NHS 111, and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available for those who need them. The public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues during industrial action so that they can be directed to the best place for their needs. Patients who need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal.
Dr Matt Sweeting, Executive Medical Director at NHS Mid and South Essex, said “Our local healthcare system has well-rehearsed plans in place to help minimise the disruption of the planned resident doctors’ strikes. Our local teams will be working hard to keep essential healthcare services available for those who need them.
“Please remember your NHS is still here to help you. You should continue to come forward if you need urgent or emergency care, and access your local NHS services – including GP, Pharmacy, NHS 111, and emergency services – in the usual way.”
For the latest information visit our dedicated website for the latest industrial action guidance.