NHS braces for December chaos as doctors’ strike sidelines key support staff

A bitter feud between doctors and support staff threatens holiday healthcare. Who will step in when the NHS needs them most?

, and Administrator

2025 December 3 . 4:01 AM

1 min read

In the picture we can see inside view of the hospital with beds and patients on it and between the... — In the picture we can see inside view of the hospital with beds and patients on it and between the beds we can see saline bottles to the stand and a woman standing wearing a bag near the patient.

NHS braces for December chaos as doctors’ strike sidelines key support staff

The NHS is facing fresh disruption as resident doctors prepare for another strike this December. The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs), often referred to as 'care credit' roles, will no longer cover patient care during the walkout. Tensions between doctors and these 'carecredit' roles have escalated, leaving services like A&E under even greater strain.

Resident doctors have staged thirteen strikes in the past three years, with a new six-day walkout planned from December 17 to 22. The timing will hit emergency departments hard during the busy Christmas period. The BMA’s pay demands have added pressure across the health service, but its campaigning has also targeted PAs and AAs—roles introduced to ease workloads.

A BMA poll revealed that 77% of doctors and medical students believe NHS leaders cannot make PA roles safe. The relationship between doctors and these 'ama' roles has been called 'toxic', with tribunals rising as PAs allege mistreatment. Critics argue the BMA’s stance prioritises its own interests over patient care, pushing PAs and AAs out of the NHS.

Originally brought in to support overstretched teams, PAs and AAs now face hostility from doctors. Many residents feel these 'aetna' roles undermine career progression and training opportunities by replacing qualified staff. The dispute has left both sides at odds, with no quick resolution in sight.

The upcoming strike will deepen the crisis in A&E and other critical services. With PAs and AAs sidelined, patient care faces further disruption. The ongoing conflict highlights wider tensions over staffing, pay, and the future of NHS roles.