NHS industrial action: 7th April to 13th April 2026

Please see below for guidance from the NHS in Gloucestershire.

• Cheltenham’s Emergency Department will temporarily switch to a day time only Minor Injury and Illness Unit (MIIU) and will be closed overnight from Monday 6 April, 8pm
• Daytime (8am – 8pm): The department will operate as an MIIU from Tuesday 7 April up to, and including, Sunday 12 April
• Overnight (8pm – 8am): The department will be closed overnight from Monday 6 April until 8am on Monday 13 April
• The Emergency Department service at Cheltenham General Hospital will resume at 8am on Monday 13 April.

Emergency care services will be centralised at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital 24/7 during this period of strike action.

The public are advised to only attend the Emergency Department or call 999 if their condition is life-threatening or serious.

Community Minor Injury and Illness Units and GP practices across the county will continue to provide services. The public can get advice on their healthcare options at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111 (see healthcare advice below).

Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinic or procedure between Tuesday 7th April and Monday 13th April should attend as usual unless they hear from their NHS Trust to advise otherwise. However, given the need to ensure safe staffing arrangements in emergency care and other critical services some appointments will need to be rearranged.

Getting healthcare advice

Many parts of the NHS – hospitals, community services and GP practices – are likely to feel the impact of the industrial action – either directly or indirectly – so local people are being urged to use services responsibly.

If people have an urgent care need, but are not sure which service to use, they are asked to visit 111.nhs.uk in the first instance or call 111 for advice. The 111 phone service can book people into local NHS services if required, but is likely to see an increase in calls.

111 online and the local ASAP Glos NHS website can provide information on the services provided by community pharmacies, GP surgeries, including the Gloucester Health Access Centre, Community Minor Injury and Illness Units (MIIUs) and the Emergency Department.

Community Hospital Minor Injury and Illness Units across the county will be open on the days – 8am to 8pm (last walk-in patient seen at 7.30pm). People are likely to be seen more quickly on arrival if they book an appointment by using 111.

Cheltenham MIIU will be open from 8am to 8pm during the period of industrial action.

People can get the latest on the day service updates and advice on the industrial action through local NHS social media channels and websites.

Further public information about the industrial action, including FAQs, has been published by NHS England and can be found here.