Patients using Luton and Dunstable University Hospital are being warned that services could be disrupted next week as resident doctors take part in a six-day national strike.
The walkout, organised by the British Medical Association, will run from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 7am on Monday 13 April. Hospital bosses say the action will have a significant impact on services run by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the L&D Hospital.
The trust says staff are working to maintain emergency care for the most seriously ill patients, maternity services and treatment for people already on wards during the strike period.
Patients with appointments during the six days have been told to attend as normal unless the hospital contacts them to rearrange. Any appointments that do have to be postponed will be rescheduled as a priority, the trust said.
Hospital leaders are also urging people not to delay seeking urgent medical help if they need it, particularly over the Easter bank holiday weekend when the strike will still be under way.
In a statement, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our staff are working hard to ensure we can continue to provide both emergency care for the most seriously ill and injured patients, as well as maternity services and care on the wards for our patients.”
The trust added: “Everyone who has a hospital appointment from 7 April to 13 April 2026 should attend as planned, unless we have contacted you to reschedule. We will be rearranging any postponed appointments as a priority.”
Patients are being asked to help ease pressure on services by using other NHS options where appropriate, including contacting NHS 111 online or by phone for advice and visiting pharmacies for minor illnesses.
The emergency department at the L&D Hospital will remain open but should only be used for life-threatening emergencies or when someone is seriously ill or injured.
The strike forms part of a continuing national dispute between resident doctors and the government over pay and working conditions. The British Medical Association (BMA) says doctors have experienced significant real-terms pay cuts over the past decade and are seeking further increases.
In a statement it said of the government’s latest pay offer: “Unfortunately, it became clear in negotiations that the money proposed for pay increases was now going to be spread over three years. This is on top of the pay review body (DDRB) recommendation of a pay uplift of just 3.5 per cent. Strikes can be avoided, but the Government must act fast.”
National NHS leaders have warned that the six-day walkout could put additional strain on services, particularly as it coincides with the Easter holiday period and follows a long-running series of strikes by doctors since 2023.
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