NHS Says Hospitals Coping as Doctors Begin Latest Six-Day Strike in England

Hospitals across England are continuing to operate during the latest round of industrial action by resident doctors, with NHS officials saying services are holding up in the early stages of the strike.

The six-day walkout, led by resident doctors in England, is part of an ongoing dispute with the government over pay and working conditions. It is one of the longest strikes in the series of industrial actions that have taken place over the past year.

In a message to health service leaders, NHS England’s national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said the health system was in “as good a place as we could hope” at the start of the strike. He noted that preparations had been made to manage disruption, including rescheduling non-urgent care and ensuring emergency services remain available.

Hospitals have implemented contingency plans to maintain patient safety, with senior doctors and consultants providing cover for urgent and emergency services. Some routine appointments and planned procedures have been postponed as a result of the strike.

The industrial action follows a long-running disagreement between resident doctors and the UK government over pay. Doctors have called for pay restoration, arguing that their earnings have declined in real terms over recent years. The government has said its pay offer is fair and within budget constraints.

Previous strikes have led to widespread disruption across the NHS, including delays to treatments and growing waiting lists. Health officials have urged patients to continue attending appointments unless they are contacted otherwise.

The strike is scheduled to last six days, with further talks between representatives of resident doctors and government officials yet to produce an agreement.