Patients in Luton are being warned to expect disruption at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital after resident doctors confirmed a new round of national strike action in the run up to Christmas.
The British Medical Association says resident doctors will take industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 17 December until 7am on Monday 22 December 2025, a move expected to significantly affect services at the hospital during one of the busiest periods of the year for the NHS.
It will be the second strike in two months after doctors walked out between 14 November to 19 November.
Hospital leaders say plans are in place to protect essential services, with emergency care for the most seriously ill and injured patients, maternity services and ward care expected to continue. However, patients are being urged to think carefully about how they use hospital services during the strike period.
The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has, who are in charge of Luton Hospital, stressed that anyone needing urgent or life threatening care should still attend hospital as normal, and not delay seeking help because of the strikes.
Patients with hospital appointments between 17 and 22 December are being told to attend as planned unless they are contacted directly to rearrange. Any appointments that do have to be postponed will be rescheduled as a priority.
To help ease pressure on frontline services, residents are being encouraged to use NHS 111 online as their first point of contact for health advice and to only attend the Emergency Department in genuine emergency situations. The Trust thanked patients and families for their patience and understanding during what it described as a challenging time.
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