As resident doctors across the east of England plan further industrial action next week, NHS healthcare leaders across the region are encouraging patients to consider how and where they access NHS services as disruption is expected during the six days of strike action between 7am on Tuesday 7 April, and 7am on Monday 13 April 2026.

This is the 15^th round of industrial action since 2023 and comes as the NHS is coming out of its busy winter period.

In addition, the timing of these April strikes fall during the Easter holiday period where staff take time to rest and recover with their families.

During the strikes, all other NHS staff (including consultants, and other specialist doctors and nurses) will still be working, and the focus of the NHS will be on ensuring as many services as possible continue to operate safely.

It is 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.

Members of the public are advised to attend any planned appointments scheduled during the strikes unless they have been contacted to reschedule.

Primary 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.

Professor Edward Morris, Regional Medical Director for the NHS in the East of England, said:

“Our patients and staff will be incredibly frustrated to hear that the British Medical Association has decided to go ahead with yet another round of industrial action just as there are positive signs of reductions in waiting times and improvements in service delivery coming out of the busy winter period.

“Thanks to the actions of NHS staff during the last period of resident doctor industrial action, the NHS managed to continue delivering almost 95% of its planned routine care.

“These strikes come at a significant cost for hard-working NHS colleagues – as some will no doubt see their holiday and bank holiday plans disrupted. This action adds further pressure on staff and an already busy service.

“During the strikes, there may be fewer doctors working than usual, and they will need to prioritise life-saving care so less urgent cases may experience longer waits.

“Whilst some appointments will inevitably need to be rescheduled, teams will be working hard to maintain care and limit disruption as much as possible.

“If you are in an emergency, you should still dial 999, and for anything else use 111 online, your local pharmacist or GP.”

NHS England urge anyone who currently has an appointment scheduled between 7 April – 13 April, to attend as usual, unless you are contacted by the NHS and told otherwise.

ENDS