NHS industrial action: 7th April to 13th April 2026
Please see below for guidance from the NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire on how to get the help you need.
The latest round of strikes by resident doctors, including many working at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, Great Western Hospital in Swindon and Salisbury District Hospital, is set to begin at 7am on Tuesday 7th April.
Scheduled to last until 6:59am on Monday 13 April, the industrial action is likely to cause significant disruption to routine services, such as outpatient appointments, pre-planned operations and day surgery cases.
During these strikes, all other NHS staff, including consultants and other specialist doctors, will still be working and the focus of the NHS will be on ensuring as many services as possible continue to operate safely.
To ensure teams can focus on people who are most unwell, the public are being asked to choose wisely and to only visit hospital when there is a genuine need to do so.
Dr Barry Coakley, GP and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said:
"We have well‑established plans in place to ensure care remains available for those who need it most during industrial action, with patient and staff safety our top priority.
"Some non‑urgent appointments and procedures may be postponed and anyone affected will be contacted directly. People with pre‑planned appointments should continue to attend unless told otherwise.
"We’re asking local communities to help by choosing the most appropriate care option so hospital services can focus on those most in need. For many minor conditions this will be self‑care, NHS 111 online or a community pharmacy.
"Anyone who needs urgent or emergency care should continue to come forward without delay."
While all GP practices will be open as normal throughout the walkout, patients are advised that many surgeries will be busier than normal, as colleagues focus their attention on patients in need of same-day urgent care.
People looking for health and care support during the strikes are encouraged to visit a community pharmacy, which can help with prescriptions and most minor illnesses and injuries, or use NHS 111 online.
By visiting www.111.nhs.uk, people can get tailored health information direct to their phone, tablet or laptop, with the service able to offer simple diagnoses and treatment advice, as well as referrals to face-to-face care in the local area.
Anyone in genuine need of emergency care, such as those experiencing severe chest pains, significant bleeding or loss of consciousness, should not put off visiting the nearest hospital emergency department or calling 999.
Further information about all available local health and care services can be found online at www.bswtogether.org.uk/yourhealth
