NHS Tells Patients: Don't Skip Care During 6-Day Doctor Strike Starting Tuesday
Tens of thousands of resident doctors in England will start a six-day strike on Tuesday over pay and job opportunities. The NHS is telling patients not to put off getting medical care they need during the walkout.
Resident doctors across England will walk off the job Tuesday in their 15th strike over pay and working conditions. The six-day walkout comes right after a long bank holiday weekend when many people put off seeking medical care.
NHS managers are urging patients not to delay treatment they need, even during the strike. They're worried hospitals could face a surge of patients who waited through the holiday weekend plus those affected by reduced staffing during the strike.
The health secretary called the strike "disappointing." Resident doctors are the backbone of England's hospital system - they're qualified doctors who work in hospitals before becoming specialists or family doctors.
The strike is part of a long-running dispute over pay and job opportunities. It's the 15th time resident doctors have walked out in this ongoing fight with the government.
If you need medical care in England, you might face longer waits or delays during the strike. NHS managers are worried hospitals will be swamped with patients after the long holiday weekend.
The six-day strike will continue through the week. Watch for updates on how hospitals are managing patient care.
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