SCORES of junior doctors will be taking part in industrial action across Worcestershire as the dispute over pay continues.

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am Friday, August 11 to Tuesday, August 15 as the NHS enters the ninth month of industrial action across its services.​

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said people should attend their appointments as planned unless they have been contacted directly by a healthcare professional.

The trust said the fifth round of junior doctor strikes will have a "significant impact" on the services.

 

However, people will still be able to call 999 in life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 online for other health concerns while the industrial action takes place.

NHS England’s South East medical director, Vaughan Lewis, said: "Thank you to everyone for continuing to help us during the industrial action.

"Please continue to use NHS services responsibly as junior doctors strike for the fifth time.

"We are urging anyone with non-urgent care need to first seek help from NHS 111 online and only use 999 in a life-threatening emergency."

Following a recent ruling by the High Court, employers can no longer use agency staff to fill in for striking workers during industrial action, which means some of the cover arrangements used during previous strikes will not be possible.

However, the ruling does not apply to a hospital’s own ‘bank’ staff, and NHS Employers has provided guidance to trusts on this issue.