Thousands of Resident Doctors Strike Across England Cancelling Hundreds of Appointments

Thousands of resident doctors across England have initiated a five-day strike over pay disputes, causing significant disruption in NHS services including the cancellation of hundreds of appointments and operations. NHS England and hospital trusts are attempting to reschedule cancelled appointments within two weeks, though they acknowledge this causes distress and knock-on effects for other patients. Hospitals are prioritizing urgent and emergency care, with derogations granted to allow some striking doctors to return to work in critical areas such as neonatal intensive care and emergency departments. The British Medical Association continues to demand a 26 percent pay increase, arguing current pay is significantly lower in real terms compared to previous years. Government officials have condemned the strikes as reckless, with the Health Secretary and opposition leader warning of damage to NHS progress and patient care. Meanwhile, trusts across regions including the West Midlands, Suffolk, and York have implemented contingency plans to maintain essential services and are contacting patients directly if appointments are affected.