Industrial action from Wednesday 17 to Monday 22 December 2025
Resident doctors working in hospitals who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) will take part in five days of industrial action from 7am on Wednesday 17 December until 7am Monday 22 December 2025.
The strike will affect NHS services across County Durham and Darlington and patients should expect disruption and potential long waits during the strike, and during the following immediate days when patient attendance often peaks, this is alongside trusts managing winter flu admissions, which has arrived early this year and causing significant added pressures.
Please keep your appointment unless you hear otherwise
Please attend your appointments unless you hear otherwise. The Trust will contact you directly if there are any changes to your planned appointment or surgery, and there is no need to contact us about this.
For urgent health needs, which are not life threatening, www.111.nhs.uk is available 24 hours a day. Its symptom checker can be used to assess symptoms, and it will direct to a health professional if people need to be seen by someone. Also, self-care advice is available on NHS online.
Parents, carers and young people can also use the Healthier Together app or website which provides NHS healthcare advice and top tips on a range of child related illnesses along with information on local services.
Anyone needing mental health crisis support can phone NHS 111 and select the mental health option.