Patients in Reading are being advised to expect disruption to hospital services as resident doctors prepare for a six-day walkout starting next week. The strike, organised by the British Medical Association, is set to take place from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6.59am on Monday 13 April 2026.
This industrial action will affect services across the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, including the prospect of cancelled or rescheduled appointments. During a similar six-day strike in January 2026, the trust had to postpone 755 appointments, with an average of 60 resident doctors taking part in the walkout each day.
Local health officials are urging patients to continue attending their planned appointments unless they are contacted directly by the hospital. For those requiring medical assistance during the strike, the public is encouraged to use NHS 111 for non-emergency issues, while 999 should be reserved strictly for life-threatening emergencies. According to the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Prospect Park Hospital, crisis and single point of access services will continue to operate as usual throughout the period.
The strike follows a breakdown in pay negotiations between the government and the union. While the government offered a deal including a 3.5% pay award and 4,000 new training posts, the union rejected the proposal. The union maintains that pay remains approximately 20% lower in real terms compared to 2008 levels, despite recent increases.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a 48-hour deadline to the union, which expires on 2 April 2026, to call off the action or face the loss of 1,000 extra training places. This walkout marks the 15th round of industrial action since the dispute began in March 2023, and health leaders have warned that the strike could cost the national health service up to £300 million.
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