Patients registered at The Red Practice Walton in Walton-on-Thames are being advised to prepare for potential service disruptions as resident doctors prepare for a six-day strike. The industrial action is set to run from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6.59am on Monday 13 April 2026.
This walkout marks the 15th time resident doctors have taken industrial action since March 2023. The British Medical Association confirmed the strike following a member vote where 83 per cent of participants rejected the government’s latest offer regarding pay and working conditions.
Local health officials, overseen by the newly formed NHS Surrey and Sussex, are urging residents to choose the right care during the busy period. Services are currently under significant pressure due to high levels of circulating norovirus and the increased demand typically seen following the Easter bank holiday weekend.
The government has responded to the impasse by withdrawing an offer that included 1,000 additional specialty training posts. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has further warned that 4,500 specialty training places remain at risk if the strike proceeds. While local facilities such as the Thames Medical Hub at Walton Community Hospital continue to provide coordinated care for patients with long-term conditions, residents are encouraged to plan ahead for their medical needs during the strike period.
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