Resident doctors at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham are set to take part in a six-day national strike starting at 7am on Tuesday 7 April 2026. The industrial action, which will last until 6.59am on Monday 13 April 2026, marks the 15th round of walkouts in the ongoing pay dispute.
The Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust has confirmed it has contingency plans in place to manage the disruption. However, officials are warning that the walkout will place significant pressure on the emergency department, which is one of the busiest in the country, typically seeing 385 patients every day.
The strike follows a decision by the British Medical Association’s Resident Doctors Committee to reject a government pay offer on 24 March. The union argued that government proposals to distribute £700m in pay progression money over three years represented a shift in terms, as they had sought for the funds to be delivered within the 2026-27 financial year.
Following the rejection and the failure to reach a resolution, the government confirmed the withdrawal of an offer for 1,000 additional training posts. NHS England has noted that the timing of this latest action, which falls during the busy Easter period, will be particularly challenging and is estimated to cost the health service £300m nationally.
The hospital trust is urging local residents to use alternative services if their condition is not life-threatening. Patients are encouraged to use local GP surgeries, pharmacies, or Urgent Treatment Centres, and to consult NHS 111 for advice. The emergency department remains open, and the trust emphasizes that those with genuine, life-threatening emergencies should still attend the hospital for care.
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