Date published: 11 November 2025
Cheshire and Merseyside residents have been warned they face 'significant service disruption' during the latest wave of NHS industrial action and are uging anyone needing non emergency care to use NHS 111.
The unions have announced a full walkout of resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, from 7am on Friday 14 November to 7am on Wednesday 19 November, which is expected to cause significant impact with staff already managing increased demand for urgent and emergency care during the winter months.
“As we head into the busiest time of the year, we’re asking for the public’s support in continuing to use NHS services appropriately," said Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside's Medical Director.
"The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably a walkout on this scale will lead to significant service disruption."
Residents are advised to call 999 or go to an A&E department in an emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, but if they need urgent medical help and are not sure where to go, use NHS 111 online to get assessed and directed to the right place.
Almost half of all hospital doctors are resident doctors, who work in almost every part of a busy hospital, including A&E where they might diagnose patients, put them under anaesthetic, write prescriptions, support the process of admission and discharge, maintain the flow of patients through the hospital and ensure beds are available for those who need them the most.
The NHS will continue to deliver planned care where possible, especially for patients in greatest clinical need, and are urging the public to attend any planned appointments unless contacted directly to reschedule. Mersey Care will use their website and social media channels to provide up-to-date information to the public about local service disruption – so please check before you travel.
The NHS 111 service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call, go online or use the NHS App to find out:
- Where to get help for your symptoms
- How to find general health information and advice
- Where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
- How to get a repeat prescription
- How to get an emergency dental appointment.
If needed, NHS 111 can also arrange a call back from a nurse, doctor or paramedic or an appointment at the most appropriate local service including local pharmacies, urgent treatment centres, GP practices or A&E.
More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.
