The NHS in the West and East Midlands is urging patients not to put off coming forward for care, as resident doctors are expected to take action for five days from today. 

 Industrial action begins at 7am today (Wednesday 17 December) – lasting until 7am on Monday 22 December – and hospital teams across the country are working hard to ensure disruption is minimised for patients. 

 This comes at a time when the health service is seeing patients with flu hospitalised at this time of year. 

At the beginning of this month, over 4,400 patients were in hospital with flu across the Midlands, 1,074 in East Midlands and 3,359 in West Midlands. 

 Plans are in place to continue life-saving care, while keeping as much routine care and scheduled operations going as possible.  

 A senior clinician in the Midlands today urged the public to attend their appointments unless contacted otherwise and for people to get vaccinated in time to protect themselves over the New Year. 

As with previous strikes, appointments should only be rescheduled in the interests of patient safety. 

The NHS has also been doing everything it can to get people vaccinated against flu, including ramping up the offer of free flu jabs in community pop-up clinics, such as Christmas markets, shopping centres and sports matches, as well as in schools.  

More than 3 million flu vaccines have been delivered in the Midlands so far this year, and the jab has been taken up by more than 80,000 frontline healthcare workers.   

In Birmingham, a vaccination van is supporting roll out of the vaccine this week in the following locations: 

• Wednesday 17 December: ASDA Minworth 10am – 2pm 

• Thursday 18 December: Mell Square 10am – 2pm 

• Friday 19 December: Swan Shopping Centre 10am – 2pm 

Whether you’re eligible a flu or Covid-19 vaccine, or both – there are convenient clinics across the Midlands. 

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.  

GP practices will continue to be open 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 Vijay Rawal, NHS Midlands Regional Medical Director for Primary Care said: “We can see flu cases rising and our hospitals entering the most pressured time of the year. 

“The focus in the Midlands and of our NHS staff will be on ensuring as many services as possible can continue to operate safely. 

“It is important that people across the Midlands who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal – by dialling 999 in an emergency and otherwise using 111 online, your local pharmacist or GP – and attending appointments unless they are contacted by the NHS to reschedule. 

“If you haven’t yet had your flu jab, please come forward and get protected.”  

This latest action will be the 14th round of strikes from resident doctors since March 2023.   

Resident doctors, previously named junior doctors, make up around half of all doctors in the NHS and have anywhere up to eight years’ experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in general practice. 

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, and by getting their flu vaccine if eligible and they haven’t already.  

Find a vaccination clinic near you
NHS England — Midlands » Get Protected This Winter