London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – London NHS chief Dr Chris Streather urged medics to call off their Christmas strike and warned Londoners to stay home amid a flu wave.
As reported by The Standard, London’s NHS chief has urged doctors to cancel their festive strike amid a severe flu wave sweeping the capital.
What did Dr Chris Streather say about the doctors’ Christmas strike during the flu wave?
The NHS medical director for London, Dr Chris Streather, said,
“Industrial action now is the wrong thing to do for the public of London.”
Dr Streather highlighted that hospitals are facing triple challenges: staff off sick due to flu, the ongoing virus surge, and efforts to discharge patients before Christmas.
During an interview, he said,
“So there are three reasons why it’s really bad timing. I would very much like resident doctors to rethink and enter into talks about solving this dispute without resorting to industrial action.”
The NHS chief stated,
“There is a lot we need to do to improve the lives of resident doctors and we need to do that with some urgency and take it seriously. But I think industrial action now is the wrong thing to do for the public of London.”
Dr Streather also called on Londoners to stay at home rather than use the Tube, trains, or buses if they experience flu-like symptoms. He also urged people to skip Christmas parties if they are coughing or sneezing to avoid spreading the virus to friends, family, and colleagues.
Urging for the flu vaccinations for vulnerable groups, Dr Streather added,
“There are still vulnerable people who haven’t come forward to be vaccinated. If you’re in one of the eligible groups and you haven’t had your flu vaccine yet, I urge you to come forward as soon as possible. It’s never too late.”
Why and when are doctors striking?
From 7 am on December 17 until December 22, resident doctors will stage their latest strike, following previous pay dispute actions. This latest doctors’ strike marks the 14th since the long-running pay dispute started in March 2023 and follows a five-day walkout in mid-November.
The strikes are primarily driven by the British Medical Association’s call for a multi-year pay deal, which it says has fallen sharply in real terms since 2008.
According to the BMA, resident doctors’ salaries are around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008 when adjusted for RPI inflation.
The government maintains that resident doctors have received around 30% in pay rises between 2023 and 2025 and refuses further negotiations, citing CPI figures showing minimal real-term decline.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the upcoming strike as “cynical” and accused the BMA of attempting to turn medics “into the Grinch who stole Christmas.”
Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said the union had “no choice” but to take further industrial action, blaming the Government for failing to provide “a credible plan to resolve the jobs crisis for resident doctors while imposing a real-terms pay cut.”
How is flu hitting London hospitals harder than last year?
London’s NHS is preparing for record flu cases this winter, with hospitalisations in the capital three times higher than last year. Flu cases are increasing across the country, but London’s low vaccination rates are causing particular concern.
During an NHS England board meeting, its CEO, Sir Jim Mackey, warned that flu hospitalisations could reach 5,000 to 8,000 beds next week, exceeding the previous record of 5,400.
Last week, 1,717 flu patients were hospitalised daily in England, over 50% higher than last year, while in London, an average of 259 beds were occupied, triple last year’s 89.
Jacqueline Walker, NHS London’s operational director of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination programmes, said,
“The NHS in London has a strong ambition to make vaccines readily accessible and convenient for eligible people, whether via GPs, community clinics or local pharmacies.”
“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are highly skilled professionals who are trusted by Londoners not only to provide medicines but to deliver clinical care to communities, including vaccinations to prevent ill health,”
she added.
Where are the 2025 Christmas parties being held in London?
Christmas parties are also scheduled across London this December, including:
- Murder Mystery: DoubleTree Tower of London Hotel: 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th & 19th Dec 2025
- Winter Wonderland Ball: Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge: 11th & 12th Dec 2025
- Imposters: Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s: 4th, 5th, 11th & 12th Dec 2025
- Urban Funfair: Magazine London: December 2025 dates available via shared packages
