A five-day walkout will start tomorrow (Friday 14 November), with people across Cheshire being urged to use NHS 111 for all non-emergency healthcare needs.

Unions have announced a full walkout of resident doctors from 7am on Friday 14 November to 7am on Wednesday 19 November.

As the 13th strike in the long-running pay dispute since March 2023, the industrial action is expected to cause significant disruption.

Almost half of all hospital doctors are resident doctors, with them working in almost every part of a busy hospital. They will walk out of both emergency and routine care with senior doctors brought in to provide cover.

While the NHS attempted to keep as many routine services running as possible during the last strike, thousands of operations and appointments still had to be postponed.

The British Medical Association (BMA) had previously announced a fresh round of strikes in England, following unsuccessful talks with the government.

The BMA and government have been in talks throughout the summer and early autumn, following the last walkout at the end of July.

Despite resident doctors' salaries rising by 28.9% over the last three years, they are seeking a further 26% over the next few years to make up for the loss in the real-terms value of their pay since 2008.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has maintained that he would not negotiate on pay. The talks, therefore, had centred on career progression, working conditions and out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees.

The union argues that, despite the pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.

They have also said they wanted the government to address what they say is a shortage of jobs after the second year of training when resident doctors move into speciality training.

Starting on Friday 14 November, a five-day walkout by resident doctors will take place, with the BMA attributing strikes to no progress being made.

Strike action will create significant challenges for the NHS with staff already managing increase demand for urgent and emergency care.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside's medical director, professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, is urging people to use NHS 111 for all non-emergency healthcare needs.

He said: "As we head into the busiest time of the year, we're asking for the public's support in continuing to use NHS services appropriately.

"The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably a walkout on this scale will lead to significant service disruption.

"You should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

"But if you need urgent medical help and you're not sure where to go, use NHS 111 online to get assessed and directed to the right place for you".

The NHS will continue to deliver planned care where possible, especially for patients in greatest clinical need.

If needed, NHS 111 can also arrange a call back from a nurse, doctor or paramedic or an appointment at the most appropriate local service including local pharmacies, urgent treatment centres, GP practices or A&E.