Stuart Anderson MP is “greatly concerned” about the impact of the latest round of strikes by junior doctors on the delivery of health services across South Shropshire.
- The latest round of strikes will cost the NHS £300 million.
- Thousands of hospital appointments have been cancelled.
- The strikes began on 7th April and end on 13th April 2026.
- Stuart is encouraging those affected to complete his survey on local services.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“I am greatly concerned about the impact of further strikes by junior doctors on the delivery of health services in South Shropshire. The NHS has revealed that this will cost £300 million, with thousands of planned hospital appointments cancelled. The government’s inability to strike a deal has resulted in residents’ appointments being cancelled, leaving many without the care that they have been waiting for. I am inviting residents affected by the strikes to share their views and experiences with me via the survey on my website. The Conservatives would protect patients by ensuring minimum service levels across the NHS - as is already the case for the Armed Forces and the Police, where strikes have been illegal for more than one hundred years.“
The British Medical Association (BMA) ordered the six-day walkout between 7th April and 13th April 2026 after it rejected a deal on pay and conditions. The BMA has been seeking a 26 per cent pay rise, having turned down a 4.9 per cent average uplift for this year. It follows previous strikes between July and November 2025, with further disruption in December 2025. The BMA has voted to extend its mandate for industrial action for another six months to August 2026, with no indication when the dispute will be resolved.
Stuart’s concerns follow the revelation that the industrial action will cost the NHS £300 million, with thousands of planned hospital appointments cancelled. The NHS hopes to keep activity at 95 per cent of normal levels during the strike action, which began on 7th April and is due to end on 13th April 2026. Senior medics are being drafted in to provide cover in emergency settings, with the NHS urging residents to use 999 and 111 as normal. However, Stuart is worried that it still means many pre-planned treatments and appointments have been cancelled. This is the fifteenth round of industrial action by junior doctors. Analysis by the Telegraph has found that the latest strike action brings the total impact on NHS services to around £3.2 billion. It could have paid for about 1.5 million operations or 15 million outpatient appointments.
As part of his campaign to enhance public services in South Shropshire, Stuart has been inviting residents to respond to his survey on health and social care services. Stuart is now inviting residents affected by the strikes to share their views and experiences with him via this survey. In December 2025, Stuart called for "strong and decisive action" to ensure minimum service levels across the NHS - as is already the case in the Police, where strikes have been illegal for over 100 years. The Conservatives would reintroduce Minimum Service Levels for all health services and ban both resident doctors and consultants from striking in line with other frontline services like soldiers and the Police.
