BMA resident doctors’ industrial action: 25-30 July 2025
23 July 2025
The BMA trade union representing resident doctors, has announced strike action from 7am Friday, 25 July until 7am Wednesday, 30 July 2025.
During this period, resident doctors (formerly junior doctors) in England will be striking, including those working for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
Throughout this period of industrial action, the Trust's focus will be on providing safe care for patients who need our services, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Robust procedures and plans are in place to maintain safe care and minimise disruption as much as possible.
The Trust's chief operating officer, Nicola Cottington, said:
We'll do all we can to allow appointments and treatments to go ahead but, if we must reschedule, we will contact you directly. If you don't hear from us, please continue to attend your appointments as planned.
It's important for anyone who is seriously unwell or injured to get medical attention urgently - don't delay seeking help. Our emergency department is here for people who need life-saving treatment. If you require other urgent help, please access the 111 service as usual."
Frequently asked questions
We may have to postpone your scheduled appointment or procedure. Should this happen, we will contact you directly. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as normal.
If your appointment is postponed and you were due to come into hospital using patient transport ambulance services, please let them know.
We apologise in advance if you are affected by the strike action and will contact you to rearrange new dates as soon as we can.
Our accident and emergency department will be open throughout the strike period and emergency care will continue to be available across all parts of the country. However, we anticipate we will be very busy.
It is important that in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or their life is at risk – patients continue to come forward as normal.
As always, we encourage you to think about which is the most appropriate service for your needs. There are a range of options to help you, such as your local pharmacy, the NHS 111 service or your GP.
All time critical maternity services will continue and if you need emergency maternity care during the strike period, then please contact our maternity services on 01284 713555 or dial 999.
Some routine appointments/procedures may need to be postponed. We will contact you directly if you are affected.
GP services will continue running as per their usual schedule during the strike period. Please continue to attend scheduled GP appointments.
We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
Please ensure you have enough of any prescribed medications – you can order repeat prescriptions via the NHS App, through your GP practice website, or if you do not have access to GP online services, by calling your GP practice.
Check your stock of first aid supplies at home to make sure you have enough. To find what you need, the St John Ambulance website has a helpful guide.
It is important that you take steps to keep yourself and others safe during this time, and check in on any vulnerable family members, loved ones or neighbours.
