Shropshire NHS resident doctors join national strike for five days
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin warns disruption to services, but urging patients to attend appointments unless told otherwise
Thousands of NHS resident doctors in England, including Shropshire, are starting a five-day strike this morning in a dispute over pay.
Health leaders are warning the NHS may have to cut frontline staff plus appointments and operations for patients if doctors’ strikes continue.
The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, which represent health trusts, said continued action was piling pressure on already-stretched budgets.
The five-day action from Friday is the 13th walkout by doctors since March 2023, with the last strike in July estimated to have cost the health service £300 million.
NHS leaders warn of strike consequences
NHS Confederation and NHS Providers said that if the NHS continues to have to foot the bill from strikes, it could lead to staff being cut and fewer tests, appointments and operations being carried out.
The knock-on impact on patients is they will be forced to wait longer for care, and many may no longer be able to work without the treatment they need, they said.
The groups also warned that strikes are hitting progress in bringing down NHS waiting lists. Figures on Thursday showed early signs the waiting list is dropping, with September seeing a slight fall after three consecutive months of rises.
The last time resident doctors went on strike, more than 54,000 procedures and appointments needed to be cancelled or rescheduled, despite the NHS maintaining 93% of planned activity.
Patients should attend operations unless advised otherwise
NHS England is urging patients to continue coming forward for care and attend any planned appointments unless they hear otherwise.
Dr Jenny Harvey from Shropshire’s NHS Trust said:
"The most important thing is knowing that the services will still be available. GPs and emergency departments will still be running and so is NHS 111."
Patients who need emergency help should continue to use 999 or A&E as normal, while NHS 111 is also available alongside usual GP services.