The NHS is bracing a “triple whammy of pressure” with the latest strike by resident doctors set to coincide with a possible heatwave and England’s World Cup opener.
Resident doctors in England from the British Medical Association (BMA) are set to stage their 16th round of strike action since 2023 with a four-day walkout to commence at 7am on Monday and end at at 6.59am on Friday.
The challenge is compounded by Met Office forecasts of "generally above normal" temperatures between Tuesday and Thursday, and increased demand linked to England’s first World Cup match. The Three Lions face Croatia at 9pm UK time on Wednesday which is expected to draw large crowds to pubs and bars.
NHS England said that patients should continue to attend all planned appointments unless they are specifically contacted directly to rearrange them, and those with urgent or emergency needs are advised to seek help in the normal way.
Professor Frankie Swords, national medical director at NHS England, said: “The NHS remains open as usual during this period of industrial action, with staff across the NHS doing everything they can to keep patients safe and minimise disruption to services.
“With temperatures set to rise again this week and the World Cup kicking off – it will be triple whammy of pressure, but staff will pull together as they always do, to keep the show on the road and ensure people continue to receive the care they need.
“It is important during any heatwave, that people try to stay cool, stay out of the sun, and stay hydrated during the hottest hours, and seek help when they need it, especially those who are vulnerable including the very young, elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
“Please come forward for care as normal, call 999 or attend A&E in an emergency, and use 111 online first for urgent but non-life-threatening support.”
When the strike was announced in May, BMA officials said that Health Secretary James Murray “made clear” he will not increase the offer to resident doctors.
The union said that more strike dates in July could also be announced.
Speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, Health Secretary James Murray said: “I was really disappointed that the resident doctors are going to strike next week.
“I met them within my first couple of weeks in office and I explained to them my position, which is that there is a really good offer on the table when it comes to pay: a 28.9 per cent increase over the last three years, 4.9 per cent increase this year, which rises to 7.1 per cent for some of the lowest-paid resident doctors.
“We cannot go further on pay, but when it comes to other aspects of the deal, when it comes to job opportunities, to terms and conditions, training options, that is where I want to work with them to strengthen the deal as much as possible.
“And we have been having some good conversations about that.
“I’m disappointed that, despite having those conversations about how to improve other aspects of the deal, that the strikes are still set to go ahead, and I would urge them, even today, to continue that conversation with us about the other aspects of the deal, other than pay, and make that as strong as possible for their members, because that would be for the benefit of resident doctors and all of us as patients.”
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of the NHS Alliance, said: “Local NHS leaders have become all-too familiar with dealing with industrial action stemming from this long and damaging dispute.
“Yet again, every effort will be made during next week’s walkout to minimise disruption to patients, despite potential additional pressures as a result of the weather and the football.
“But there will be some knock-on delays to care which will be hugely frustrating for those affected.
“And for every stoppage there is a very significant hit to NHS finances.
“Even at this late stage we urge both sides, the Government and the BMA, to get together and resolve this dispute once and for all.”
The BMA has been approached for comment.
