The University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust has issued guidance for patients in Poole as a six-day strike by resident doctors is set to impact hospital services starting 7 April 2026. The industrial action, organised by the British Medical Association, is scheduled to run from 7am on 7 April until 6.59am on 13 April.
Hospital officials have advised residents that some planned appointments may be postponed during this period. Patients are instructed to assume their appointment is going ahead unless they are contacted directly by the hospital. While routine services face potential disruption, the hospital remains committed to providing care for those in need of emergency treatment.
Poole Hospital serves as a key medical hub for east Dorset, including the Dorset Cancer Centre, which provides specialised oncology services for more than 750,000 people. Those with serious or life-threatening conditions will continue to be seen in the emergency department, which will remain operational despite the industrial action. NHS England has urged the public to continue using local pharmacies, GP services, and the 111 service for non-urgent care needs to help manage pressure on hospital resources during the strike.
This walkout marks the latest development in a long-standing national dispute regarding pay and working conditions, which first began in March 2023. Health service leaders have warned that the national strike could result in longer wait times for tests, treatment, and surgery, and estimate the action could cost the health service approximately £300 million.
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