Resident Doctors Strike- A message from NHS Surrey

Surrey’s hospital and community and mental health trusts have joined forces with NHS Surrey Heartlands and the wider health and care partnership to warn the public of disruption expected to NHS services over the next week if action goes ahead.

Their plea comes after the British Medical Association announced earlier this month that resident doctors will stage a fresh round of industrial action from 7am on 25 July until 6.59am on 30 July.

Professor Andrew Rhodes, Joint Chief Medical Officer for Surrey Heartlands NHS, said: 

We have well-rehearsed plans in place to manage these periods of disruption, working together across health and care organisations.

However, with this strike happening at the start of the school summer holidays, we expect this to be a particularly difficult period of action.

We are encouraging the public to make sure they are using services appropriately and responsibly – making full use of the 111 service to ensure they are utilising and signposted to the right service for their health needs and freeing up urgent and emergency care for those with life-threatening conditions.

Dr Bill Jewsbury, Medical Director at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

During the industrial action, we are focused on minimising disruption and prioritising essential, time critical services such as cancer care.

We also remain committed to maintaining as much non-urgent care and treatment as possible.

Non-urgent appointments and procedures will only be rescheduled when absolutely necessary and will be rebooked promptly.

If you haven’t heard directly from us, please attend your appointment as planned.

Mark Roland, Chief Medical Officer at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:

Our Emergency Department will be busier than normal during this period of industrial action, but we have a robust action plan to ensure that we maintain essential and time-critical services.

There are a number of alternatives to the Emergency Department that may be more appropriate.

You can call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk who can direct you to the most appropriate care, which can include your local pharmacy or the walk-in centres in Ashford and Woking.

Please do still come to the Emergency Department if you need emergency care for serious or life-threatening illness or injury.

These include severe bleeding, severe breathing difficulties, severe chest pain, severe burns, suspected stroke or loss of consciousness.

During a previous period of industrial action which took place between 3 – 9 January 2024 over 2,500 appointments were rescheduled across the three main hospital trusts and community providers as a result of the strike action.

If people need to access health advice and treatment during this period of planned industrial action we are encouraging them to still come forward – and to use services responsibly and appropriately:

  • People should continue to use pharmacies, GP practices, walk-in centres and NHS 111 online or by phone 24/7 for urgent health advice.

  • People should only use 999 and Emergency Departments for serious or life-threatening conditions or medical emergencies (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).

  • If people’s appointments or procedures have been affected by industrial action the local NHS will contact people directly to reschedule them as soon as possible. If people haven’t been contacted, they should attend appointments as usual.

There are Minor Injury Units, Urgent Treatment Centres and Walk-in Centres across Surrey. Full details of local services, and what they can treat, can be found on our website.

People can use NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice 24/7 if they are not sure which service they need.

Published on 24 July 2025