Resident doctors in Lancashire and South Cumbria are set to take industrial action for the second time this year when they go on strike next week.
The four-day strike is set to run from 7am on Monday 15 June until 6.59am on Friday 19.
The latest in a long line of strikes over pay and job shortages, dating back to 2023, the local NHS has plans in place to ensure that services continue to run as smoothly as possible during this time.
Professor Craig Harris, chief commissioning officer at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which organises health services for the region, said: “Industrial action will still have an impact and people will find that waits in hospitals may be longer and some planned appointments will inevitably be cancelled.
“Unless you have been informed by us that your appointment won’t be going ahead, please attend as normal. Similarly, we urge anyone in need of urgent medical care to continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
“While summertime was traditionally a little less busy in hospitals, that is no longer the case and we ask everyone to use services appropriately during this time, including using 111 online for quick and easy medical help.”
Resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors - make up almost half of the number of doctors in the NHS. They were last on strike at the start of April, following three years of regular disruption.
Both primary care and secondary care have worked in partnership to mitigate risks to patient safety and there are robust plans in place to minimise the disruption and reduce delays as much as possible.
You can access NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. Please note that NHS 111 online is not available for children under five. If you need urgent medical help for a child under five, please call 111.
Please attend A&E in any life-threatening emergencies.
More information about when to call 999 and when to go to A&E is available via the national NHS website.
To find your nearest pharmacy, visit nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy.