Disruptions to NHS services in the South East are expected from the weekend as junior doctors get ready to strike again.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that junior doctors will strike from Saturday 24 until Wednesday 28 February.

The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has also announced that their junior doctor members will be on strike from 06:59 on Saturday 24 February until shifts starting after 0700 on Thursday 29 February.

This will be the 10th strike by junior doctors since March 2023 and follows a six-day strike by junior doctors last month – the longest in the history of the NHS, which resulted in a total of 14,529 junior doctors being absent from work and more than 14,500 inpatient and outpatient appointments needing to re-scheduled across the region.

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.

In line with this latest planned strike action, people are being encouraged to use NHS services responsibly to help the NHS during what will be a challenging time.

Vaughan Lewis, Medical Director for NHS England in the South East, said:  Colleagues across the region have worked incredibly hard to ensure urgent and life-saving care has continued during more than a year of strike action, however this isn’t always easy when demands on services remain high, especially during one of the most difficult times of the year.

“I would urge everyone to please choose NHS services appropriately so that care is available to those who need it the most.

“If you need urgent medical help, please use 111, via the phone, NHS App or online. Please only call 999 or visit A&E in serious or life-threatening emergencies.

“Lastly, on behalf of my colleagues in the South East, I would like to thank you all for your continued patience and support during these challenging times.”

If you or a loved one needs medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether to go to hospital, then please use NHS 111 online. GP services and pharmacies will also be available for patients and can be accessed in the normal way during the strike action. The NHS will prioritise emergency care and people should continue to use 999 in life threatening emergencies.

Planned and routine non-urgent care is expected to be disrupted during the strikes. If you have a pre-booked NHS appointment, then please attend as planned unless you have been contacted to say that the appointment has been rearranged.

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