The Emergency Department at Cheltenham General Hospital will temporarily change to a daytime-only Minor Injury and Illness Unit starting on Tuesday 7 April 2026, as resident doctors across England begin a six-day strike. The changes, announced by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will remain in place until 8am on Monday 13 April 2026.
During this period, the Cheltenham facility will operate as a minor injury unit only between 8am and 8pm. The department will be closed overnight from 8pm on Monday 6 April until 8am on Monday 13 April. Residents requiring emergency medical care during the strike are advised to attend the Emergency Department at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, which will continue to provide 24-hour services throughout the week.
The service adjustments are part of local efforts to manage hospital resources during the upcoming industrial action by members of the British Medical Association. This marks the 15th strike by resident doctors since March 2023. The walkout is driven by a pay dispute, with the union seeking a 26 per cent pay increase to restore wages to 2008 levels, while the government has offered 7.1 per cent.
Health officials have noted that the strike poses significant operational challenges, as the NHS is currently managing a high number of flu cases for this time of year. Residents with planned hospital operations or outpatient appointments between 7 April and 16 April should attend as usual, unless they are contacted directly by the hospital to rearrange.
Community groups such as the REACH Campaign continue to monitor service changes at the hospital, where the emergency department has operated on a consultant-led daytime basis since 2013. Patients are encouraged to use alternative services for non-life-threatening conditions, including GP practices, community minor injury units, and the 111 phone line, to help ease pressure on emergency departments.
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