Junior doctors' five-day strike threatens tens of thousands of cancellations as NHS wrestles with flu surge
Hundreds of thousands of appointments could be disrupted as winter pressures mount and staff take holiday leave during a five-day walkout
Up to 70,000 operations and appointments could be canceled this week as resident doctors begin a five-day walkout, overlapping with a record winter flu surge and staff holidays. Health leaders warn that more patients will likely feel the impact as NHS services cope with rising flu admissions and ongoing backlogs.
The five-day strike runs from 7 a.m. today to 7 a.m. Monday, with thousands of junior doctors seeking a 26% pay rise. They have already seen pay rise by about 29% over the past three years. Hospitals have been told to aim for 95% of usual activity, though officials concede winter pressures and the flu could make that goal difficult. The government has offered to extend the union mandate and stage the strike in January instead of December, while a separate offer included more senior training places and help with exam fees.
An NHS England forecast suggests that if activity falls to 90% of normal, 60,000 to 70,000 appointments could be disrupted. The last five-day strike in November led to the cancellation of 38,961 appointments despite 95% of usual activity being maintained. The current strike marks the 14th round of action by resident doctors since March 2023, contributing to 59 days of disruption to NHS services.
Hospitals are contending with record numbers of flu patients in this season, with several facilities declaring critical incidents and directing ambulances to other A&Es. Staffing gaps are compounded by sickness and annual leave, further straining capacity as the holiday period arrives.
The disruption also looms large for older patients. Age UK warned that postponements of minor operations or clinic appointments may feel non-urgent on paper but are acutely painful for those who have waited months and are anxious about test results, especially during winter.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized the strike as abandoning patients in their hour of greatest need and said it comes at a moment of maximum danger for the NHS. NHS England issued an urgent plea for eligible people to receive flu vaccines to help blunt the surge in hospitalizations. Meghana Pandit, NHS England’s national medical director, said the strikes come during an exceptionally challenging period, with record flu admissions, and that more patients are likely to feel the impact this time than in previous rounds despite staff efforts to minimize disruption.
Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s Resident Doctors Committee, said negotiations must move toward a lasting workforce plan; otherwise, the pattern of strikes could extend into the New Year. He warned that rushed offers and repeated denials risk prolonging the dispute rather than delivering a sustainable resolution.
Mike Prentice, NHS national director for emergency planning, urged leaders to reduce hospital bed occupancy before, during, and after the action and to focus on timely discharges in the lead-up to Christmas. He noted the window to safely discharge patients home ahead of the holidays is limited, with two full working days separating the strike from Christmas and bank holidays.
Public health officials emphasized that people should still attend appointments when advised, and that flu vaccination remains a critical tool to ease pressure on hospitals. The strike’s scale and timing have prompted concerns about how the NHS will manage patient flow through the festive period, and negotiations on workforce restoration are expected to continue into the New Year.