Patients in Stockport face potential disruption to medical services as resident doctors are set to begin a six-day strike at Stepping Hill Hospital and other sites managed by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. The industrial action, organised by the British Medical Association, is due to take place from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6.59am on Monday 13 April 2026.
The strike, which marks the 15th round of action since March 2023, will see resident doctors—formerly known as junior doctors—walk out as part of a national dispute over pay. The union is seeking a 26 per cent pay increase to restore salaries to 2008 levels, citing the impact of pay erosion since the financial crisis. Currently, doctors in foundation training earn between £38,831 and £44,439, while those in specialist training can earn up to £73,992.
During the walkout, the Trust has confirmed that it will prioritise essential, life-saving care. Services including Accident and Emergency, maternity, emergency theatres, intensive care, chemotherapy, and dialysis will remain protected and fully operational. However, residents with routine outpatient appointments or planned surgeries during this period may experience postponements. Patients are advised to attend their appointments as normal unless they are directly contacted by the Trust to reschedule.
The decision to strike follows the rejection of a government offer that included the creation of 4,000 additional specialty training posts over three years. Following the announcement of the strike, the government withdrew 1,000 of these training places. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA Resident Doctors Committee, stated that the government moved the goalposts by altering the structure of the pay offer at the last minute.
This six-day walkout is one of the longest periods of industrial action in the dispute, creating significant challenges for staffing and patient care planning across the region. Health officials are urging members of the public to use NHS 111 online, visit local pharmacies, consult their GPs, or attend urgent treatment centres for non-emergency medical needs. Residents are also encouraged to ensure they have ordered any necessary repeat prescriptions well in advance of the holiday period.
Stepping Hill Hospital serves a population of approximately 350,000 people, with the Trust providing additional community health services for another 250,000 residents across 17 sites in High Peak, Tameside, and Glossop.
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