Resident doctors at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust are set to begin six days of strike action next week, creating potential disruptions for patients across Kent and East Sussex. The industrial action is scheduled to run from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 7am on Monday 13 April 2026.
This walkout is part of a nationally coordinated campaign by the British Medical Association, marking the 15th round of strikes in a long-running pay and conditions dispute that began in 2023. This latest action is the joint longest proposed strike by resident doctors to date.
The NHS England guidance notes that previous strikes have generally allowed hospitals to maintain about 95 percent of normal activity levels. However, local health officials have warned that this week-long event will place significant strain on staffing resources, as it follows immediately after the Easter bank holidays.
The strike follows the rejection of a government offer, which included a 3.5 percent pay rise, additional training posts, and coverage for exam expenses. The British Medical Association rejected the proposal after arguing that the government had changed the terms by spreading the pay investment over three years rather than one. In response to the planned strike, Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an ultimatum on 31 March 2026, warning that the union risked losing 1,000 extra NHS training places if the action proceeded.
The Trust, which operates hospitals including Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and Maidstone Hospital, has confirmed that contingency plans are in place to prioritise urgent and emergency care. Patients with appointments during the strike period will be contacted directly if their care needs to be rescheduled.
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