Resident Doctors Strike for Four Days Amid Heatwave and World Cup 'Triple Whammy'

Resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) staged their 16th round of industrial action since 2023, walking out from 7am on Monday 15 June to 6:59am Friday 19 June 2026 in an ongoing British Medical Association dispute with the government over pay and working conditions. NHS England warned of a 'triple whammy' of pressure as the strike coincided with a heatwave and the opening of the football World Cup, including England's first match against Croatia. NHS 111, GP practices, community pharmacies and emergency services remained open throughout, with hospitals activating strike contingency plans. Average daily A&E attendances in June exceeded 80,000 for the first time on record, and London Ambulance Service answered more than 8,800 emergency calls in a single day on 26 June — the highest in its history.