Resident doctors, who make up almost half of all hospital doctors, are due to walk out from 7am on Friday 14 November until 7am on Wednesday 19 November 2025.
The industrial action follows a new package of offers from health secretary Wes Streeting last week, which the BMA dismissed, saying they 'do not go far enough'.
People are being reminded to use NHS 111 online or call 111 if they need urgent medical advice or are unsure about their symptoms, while people should continue to call 999 or attend their nearest emergency department without delay for life-threatening emergencies.
Reaction
Dr Kate Langford, chief medical officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said: ‘We anticipate that the action will have significant impact on services provided across all areas of the NHS, including our hospitals, GP practices and mental health services. We are planning to keep services running as much as possible despite the impact of the action.
‘We are working hard to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and to make sure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.'
Gill May, chief nursing officer at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB, said: ‘Although the NHS has tried and tested plans in place to limit disruption, we do need our public to get behind us and show their support, as they have done so supportively during the many previous rounds of industrial action."
Professor Craig Harris, chief operating officer at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: ‘During industrial action, there is always a significant impact on services and there are plans in place to manage the disruption and protect emergency treatment. We will be doing all we can to avoid appointment cancellations, but unfortunately some appointments will be affected.'
Dr Frankie Swords, executive medical director for Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said: 'Our commitment is to minimise disruption and deliver safe care for those who need it most.'
Matt Powls, interim group chief delivery officer for NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: ‘Please be mindful that we have fewer doctors on shift so be prepared to wait to be seen and please respect our staff who are in work who are doing their best to see and treat people as quickly as possible.'
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside's medical director, Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, said: ‘As we head into the busiest time of the year, we're asking for the public's support in continuing to use NHS services appropriately. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably a walkout on this scale will lead to significant service disruption.'
Dr Francis Andrews, consultant in emergency medicine and medical director at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, speaking on behalf of all acute medical directors for NHS Greater Manchester, said: ‘Teams across hospitals, GP practices and community services are working closely to ensure as many services as possible continue to operate safely.
‘Resident doctors are an important part of the NHS workforce, and their planned absence will mean services are likely to be busier than usual. We're asking everyone to plan ahead, use the right service for their needs, and support loved ones who are ready to return home from hospital.'
