London NHS Services Remain Open as Resident Doctors Embark on Five-Day Strike: Patient Guidance and Dispute Overview

London, UK – November 14, 2025 – Patients across London and the UK are being urged to continue accessing NHS services as usual, with hospital teams working diligently to minimize disruption during a five-day Doctor Strike London, which commenced today. This significant industrial action by resident doctors highlights ongoing concerns over pay and working conditions within the NHS.

Resident Doctors Begin Latest Industrial Action Amid Doctor Strike London

The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, began their industrial action at 7am on Friday, November 14, 2025. This walkout is scheduled to last until 7am on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, marking the 13th strike by this group since March 2023, adding to the ongoing challenges of a potential Doctor Strike London impacting services.

Resident doctors constitute approximately half of the medical workforce within the NHS. Their roles are crucial, encompassing everything from initial patient assessments and ordering tests to managing complex care and contributing significantly to hospital operations. The BMA states that these doctors, who can have up to eight years of experience, are striking due to pay erosion and a lack of adequate specialty training posts, contributing to the reasons behind the current Doctor Strike London.

The Core of the Dispute: Pay and Training in the Doctor Strike London Context

The central issue in the protracted dispute is the BMA’s demand for ‘full pay restoration,’ asserting that the real-terms value of resident doctors’ salaries has diminished by approximately 20-21% since 2008 due to inflation. They are seeking a substantial pay uplift to counteract this decline. Concurrently, the union highlights concerns over the insufficient number of specialty training positions, which they argue leaves many doctors facing unemployment or precarious locum roles after completing their foundation years, fueling the ongoing Doctor Strike London.

Conversely, the government maintains that resident doctors have received substantial pay increases, totaling 28.9% over the past three years. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been vocal in his criticism of the strike, describing it as “irresponsible” and arguing that further significant pay increases are unaffordable without tax rises or cuts elsewhere. He noted that an offer, which included expanded training places and a pay increase, was rejected by the BMA leadership without being put to a member vote, which the government claims would have benefited doctors and improved career progression during this period of Doctor Strike London.

NHS Preparedness and Patient Guidance for London During Doctor Strike London

NHS leaders are implementing robust contingency plans to manage the strike action and maintain patient safety. The primary objective is to ensure that life-saving emergency care, maternity services, and critical treatments continue as normal. Hospital chiefs have been instructed to aim for at least 95% of planned elective activity to proceed, with appointments and routine operations only being rescheduled in exceptional circumstances where patient safety is paramount during the Doctor Strike London.

Dr. Chris Streather, Medical Director for the NHS in London, emphasized the importance of patients continuing to seek the care they need. “Londoners should attend their appointments unless told otherwise,” he stated. This sentiment is echoed across the country, with NHS England urging the public to utilize healthcare services as they normally would, despite the ongoing Doctor Strike London and other doctor pay dispute issues.

For urgent but not life-threatening medical concerns, patients are advised to first consult the NHS app, visit 111 online, or speak with their local pharmacist or GP. In cases of life-threatening emergencies, the public should continue to call 999 or attend an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department, a crucial piece of patient guidance NHS during periods of medical industrial action.

Winter Pressures Exacerbate Challenges During Doctor Strike UK

This period of industrial action coincides with significant NHS winter pressures on the NHS. Rising flu cases and increased staff absences due to illness are already stretching resources. NHS bosses warn that the proximity of the strike to the peak winter season complicates efforts to maintain services and recover quickly afterward, a challenge amplified by the Doctor Strike UK.

Despite the challenges, NHS teams are working to minimize cancellations. In previous strikes, such as one in July, the NHS managed to preserve the vast majority of operations and procedures, and saw over 10,000 extra patients receive care compared to a prior period. However, concerns remain about the cumulative impact of ongoing industrial action on waiting lists, patient experience, and the financial health of the NHS, especially with the current BMA strike actions.

Ongoing Dispute and Patient Impact Amid Doctor Strike London

This latest strike is part of a long-running dispute that has led to millions of appointments and surgeries being rescheduled since March 2023. While the NHS aims to maintain a high level of service, there is an acknowledgment that some disruption is inevitable, and patients may experience longer waiting times for non-urgent care during this Doctor Strike London.

The BMA has indicated that striking doctors are expected to return to work only in exceptional circumstances to maintain patient safety, and they are unlikely to agree to derogations unless specific conditions are met by NHS trusts. The impact on NHS resident doctors is profound, driving the need for resolution.

The featured news in London and across England highlights the complex challenges facing the NHS, balancing the industrial rights of doctors with the imperative to provide continuous and safe patient care, especially during critical periods like winter. The dispute remains ongoing, with the BMA planning further re-ballots for strike action into 2026 if a resolution is not reached. This situation underscores the persistent nature of the doctor pay dispute affecting London healthcare.