Resident doctors in England begin six-day strike

Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

By Ella Pickover and Storm Newton, PA Media

Resident doctors in England have headed to picket lines at the beginning of a six-day walkout as the row with the government over jobs and pay intensifies.

Tens of thousands of doctors in training began the strike from 7am on Tuesday after crunch talks, which continued into Good Friday, failed to find a resolution.

NHS officials have said the strike – the fifteenth by resident doctors since 2023 - will be “difficult” but urged patients to come forward as normal.

Health leaders said the walkout will be “challenging due to the shorter notice period” and because of the action taking place during the Easter holiday, when many NHS staff will have booked time off with their families.

NHS England said that it will keep as much pre-planned care running as possible, and patients are urged to attend appointments unless they have been contacted. Urgent and emergency care will run as usual.