Resident doctors at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are set to begin a six-day strike starting on Tuesday 7 April 2026. The industrial action, which is part of a long-running national dispute over pay, will affect services for residents in Walton-on-Thames and the surrounding areas from 7am on Tuesday until 6.59am on Monday 13 April.
The British Medical Association announced the strike following a breakdown in negotiations with the government. The union is seeking pay restoration, arguing that doctors’ pay remains 20% lower in real terms compared to 2008 levels. In contrast, the government offered a 3.5% pay rise for the 2026/27 period. The union maintains strong support for the action, with 93.4% of members voting in favour of continuing strikes in a ballot held in January 2026.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has criticised the union’s decision, while the British Medical Association has stated that recent government changes to the pay offer reduced the overall investment. This strike is the 15th round of industrial action since March 2023.
The trust, which serves more than 410,000 people across north Surrey, operates out of St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey and Ashford Hospital. Patients who have concerns about their care or upcoming appointments during the strike period are advised to check their appointment letters for contact details for their clinical teams. Patients may also reach out to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service at 01932 723553. For non-emergency medical needs, residents are encouraged to use alternative services such as urgent treatment centres or NHS 111.
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