Resident Doctors' Strike - how you can help

The British Medical Association has announced five days of strike action by resident doctors. There will be a full walkout beginning at 07:00 on Friday 14 November 2025 and ending at 06:59 on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

What can you do to help?

● If you need urgent health help, use NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) or call 111.Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be provided with healthcare advice or an appointment for the most appropriate healthcare service for your needs. NHS 111 can also send an ambulance and can book an appointment for you in some services.

● Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at our hospitals only have the capacity to treat people who have serious or life-threatening conditions. If you use emergency services with a minor issue you are risking the lives of others and may not get the treatment for your symptoms as quickly as you would elsewhere

● Adults experiencing a mental health crisis, can speak to a mental health professional anytime, day or night, by calling NHS 111 and selecting the option for mental health. Call 0800 995 1000 for under 18s who need urgent mental health support.

● If you have a scheduled appointment with an NHS service and you have not been contacted, please attend your appointment as planned. Please do not call to check if your appointment is going ahead - the NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.

●       Your local pharmacist can also provide consultations and prescription medicines, if needed, for seven common health conditions without a GP appointment. You can get care directly from a pharmacist for conditions including earache (children 0-17), impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64. Certain age restrictions apply, find out more at: Pharmacy - Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System 

● Pick up a few medicines while you’re shopping so that you can look after very minor illnesses or injuries yourself. You can buy basic essentials like paracetamol, ibuprofen, plasters, antiseptic cream, allergy medicine and indigestion remedies from pharmacies and supermarkets for less than the cost of a prescription. Remember, cheaper non-branded versions of medicines work just as well as branded products.

●       The NHS website has lots of advice for minor symptoms. There is also information about what is a serious medical emergency: When to call 999 - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

For information on local health services available during strike action:

Find out more here