Overview

Staff at two hospitals in the South West of England have reverted to using paper records following a significant IT incident just days before scheduled strikes by resident doctors.

Incident Details

• Hospitals Involved: Cheltenham and Gloucester NHS Foundation Trust
• Date of Incident: 22 July 2025
• Cause: Server issue leading to an IT outage

Impact on Services

The trust has announced a reduction in A&E services in anticipation of a five-day strike by resident doctors, set to occur from 25 July to 30 July. In a statement released on 23 July, the trust confirmed:

1. Disruption to IT systems is ongoing, but it is not related to a cyber incident.
2. Some services have been restored, while others remain intermittently affected.
3. Efforts are underway to fully restore systems and minimize the impact on patient care.
4. Safety is a priority, with contingency plans in place to support services.

Patient Care Adjustments

According to reports, heart attack patients have been redirected to a nearby Bristol hospital. Additionally, staff have been instructed to use alternative emergency contact numbers due to affected telephone extensions.

Strike Context

Thousands of resident doctors across England are expected to participate in the 12th strike since March 2023, resulting in a total of 49 days of disruption to NHS services. The British Medical Association is advocating for a 26% pay increase for resident doctors, retroactive to April 2025, to restore salaries to their 2008 levels.

NHS Response

NHS England has urged hospital executives to maintain routine operations as much as possible during the strikes, rescheduling appointments only in exceptional circumstances to ensure patient safety. The public is advised to attend scheduled appointments unless contacted otherwise.

Statements from NHS Officials

Professor Meghana Pandit, national medical director at NHS England, expressed concern over the impact of the strikes on patients and staff, stating:

“This industrial action will undoubtedly affect patients and NHS staff, and it is disappointing that it is proceeding. We are doing everything possible to limit disruptions, and patients should continue to utilize NHS services as usual.”

Historical Context

Since the onset of strikes in late 2022, over 1.4 million hospital appointments have been rescheduled across the NHS. The previous strike in June 2024 resulted in nearly 62,000 appointments being affected, with over 23,000 staff absent due to the action.