Key Points
- Resident doctors at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital, and the Royal Free Hospital will strike from 7am Monday, June 15 until 6.59am Friday, June 19, 2026
- This is the second strike by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust’s resident doctors in recent months, following a similar strike in April 2026
- The British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed resident doctors in England will take strike action for five consecutive days
- The NHS trust confirmed all hospitals will be impacted by the industrial action and is working to minimise disruption to services
- Emergency care and acute services will be prioritised, and patients seeking urgent treatment will still be seen
- Patients have been advised to use non-hospital services for advice and treatment during the strikes “where appropriate”
- The strike plunges the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust into further financial difficulty
- Resident doctors were formerly known as junior doctors
Barnet (North London News) June 10, 2026 – North London, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, June 9, 2026 – Resident doctors at four major north London hospitals are set to strike next week, plunging the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust into further financial difficulty as industrial action begins Monday morning. Doctors at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital will be impacted by the strike scheduled from 7am on Monday, June 15 until 6.59am on Friday, June 19, marking the second such industrial action by the trust’s resident doctors in recent months following a similar strike in April.
- Key Points
- How Will the Strike Disrupt Services at Barnet, Chase Farm, North Middlesex and Royal Free Hospitals?
- Why Is This the Second Strike by Royal Free London Resident Doctors in Recent Months?
- What Advice Has Been Given to Patients During the Five-Day Strike Period?
- Which Specific Hospitals Will Be Affected by the Resident Doctors Strike?
- Background of the June 2026 Resident Doctors Strike at North London Hospitals
- Prediction: How This Strike Development Will affect North London Patients and Communities
How Will the Strike Disrupt Services at Barnet, Chase Farm, North Middlesex and Royal Free Hospitals?
“All our hospitals will be impacted by this industrial action,”
the NHS trust confirmed in their official statement, adding that
“we are working hard to ensure we minimise disruption to services”.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed that resident doctors in England will take strike action for 5 consecutive days – from 07:00 on Monday 15th June until 06:59 on Friday 19th June 2026.
Emergency care and acute services will be prioritised during the strike period, and patients seeking urgent treatment will be seen according to the trust’s assurance.
The hospital network has advised patients to use non-hospital services for advice and treatment during the strikes “where appropriate”.
Why Is This the Second Strike by Royal Free London Resident Doctors in Recent Months?
This marks the second such industrial action by the trust’s resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, in recent months, following a similar strike in April. Resident doctors at the Royal Free London are due to go on strike from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6.59am on Monday 13 April, according to the trust’s previous announcement.
The term “resident doctors” has replaced “junior doctors” in official NHS communications, as noted by the Royal Free London website.
The repeated strikes indicate ongoing tensions between the doctors and the NHS trust, with the June action plunging the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust into further financial difficulty. The April strike lasted six days while the upcoming June strike will span five consecutive days.
What Advice Has Been Given to Patients During the Five-Day Strike Period?
Patients have been advised to use non-hospital services for advice and treatment during the strikes “where appropriate,” according to the NHS trust’s official guidance.
The trust emphasised that emergency care and acute services will continue to be prioritised, ensuring that patients seeking urgent treatment will be seen.
The strike action starts from 7am Monday 15 June and runs until 7am Friday 19 June, with some NHS services affected. Hospitals remain open during the strike period, and emergency and urgent care will continue to be prioritised, as stated by the Royal Free London on their social media channels.
Which Specific Hospitals Will Be Affected by the Resident Doctors Strike?
Four major north London hospitals will be impacted by the industrial action: Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital, and the Royal Free Hospital.
All hospitals under the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust will be affected by this strike, according to the trust’s confirmation.
The BMA confirmed that resident doctors in England will participate in the strike action, with the Royal Free London being one of the trusts affected. Resident doctors at each of these four hospitals are scheduled to go on strike during the same time period.
Background of the June 2026 Resident Doctors Strike at North London Hospitals
The June 2026 strike by resident doctors at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust hospitals represents continued industrial action by medical professionals previously known as junior doctors. The British Medical Association (BMA), the professional body representing doctors in the UK, confirmed the five-day strike action spanning from 07:00 on Monday 15th June until 06:59 on Friday 19th June 2026.
This strike follows a similar industrial action in April 2026, when resident doctors at the Royal Free London struck from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6.59am on Monday 13 April.
The repetition of strikes within months suggests unresolved issues between the doctors and the NHS trust. The term “resident doctors” has become the official designation replacing “junior doctors” in NHS communications.
The strike places additional financial strain on the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which already faces budgetary pressures.
The trust operates four major hospitals across north London: Barnet Hospital in Barnet, Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton, and the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. These facilities serve a significant population across north London boroughs, making the strike’s impact particularly notable for local residents.
The NHS trust’s official response emphasised commitment to minimising disruption while prioritising emergency and acute services. This approach aligns with standard NHS protocols during industrial action, ensuring that urgent medical needs continue to be addressed despite reduced staffing levels.
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Prediction: How This Strike Development Will affect North London Patients and Communities
The five-day doctors strike at four major north London hospitals will directly affect patients and communities across north London boroughs including Barnet, Enfield, Edmonton, and Hampstead. Patients requiring non-emergency care will face delayed appointments and treatment as the hospitals operate with reduced resident doctor staffing from June 15-19, 2026.
North London residents seeking medical advice for minor conditions will need to utilise non-hospital services such as GP surgeries, pharmacy consultations, and NHS 111 services instead of visiting hospital departments.
This shift may increase pressure on primary care services across the affected boroughs during the strike period.
The strike’s impact on the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust’s financial situation could have longer-term consequences for service capacity and resource allocation at these four hospitals.
Continued financial difficulty from repeated strikes may affect the trust’s ability to invest in facilities, equipment, or staff recruitment in coming months.
Emergency care will remain available throughout the strike, but patients and families should be aware that non-urgent services including routine consultations, diagnostic tests, and some outpatient appointments may be postponed.社区居民 planning medical procedures or attending scheduled hospital appointments during June 15-19 should contact their hospital departments to confirm whether services will operate normally.
The repeat nature of this strike—following April’s industrial action—suggests potential for future strikes if underlying issues remain unresolved, creating ongoing uncertainty for north London patients who depend on these hospitals for regular care.
