Southampton A&E warning ahead of doctors' six-day walkout

Junior doctors at University Hospital Southampton and other NHS sites across the country are due to begin a six-day walkout at 7am on Wednesday.

NHS bosses are urging anyone taken ill during the strike to do everything they can to ease the pressure on A&E departments.

Officials say they should use alternative services unless they are suffering from a medical or mental health emergency.

They are also asking friends and relatives of people in hospital to take them home, rather than rely on the NHS, if they are well enough to be discharged.

University Hospital Southampton is braced for the impact of the latest strike by junior doctors (Image: Newsquest.)

Junior doctors are seeking a 35 per cent pay increase to make up for below-inflation rises since 2008, but the government says their demand is unaffordable.

The latest strike is taking place less than two weeks after the previous walkout.

It comes as hospitals, ambulance services, and GP surgeries enter what is traditionally their busiest period of the year. 

READ MORE: Junior doctors are preparing to stage the longest strike in NHS history

During December's 72-hour walkout almost 88,000 NHS appointments, including hospital check-ups and operations, had to be cancelled.

The latest strike is also expected to cause considerable disruption, adding to the huge hospital backlog that already exists.

Hospitals are already under pressure following a rise in the number of people suffering from flu and Covid-19 (Image: PA)

An NHS spokesperson: "Your local NHS is asking residents to do what they can to protect services and look after themselves. 

"Emergency Departments will continue to provide lifesaving care when needed. However, patients should only call 999, or attend an Emergency Department, if it is a medical or mental health emergency.

"People who attend when it's not an emergency will be redirected to another setting to allow us to provide emergency care for those who need it.

"We are urging you to use NHS 111 online for urgent medical advice or call 111 if you’re unable to access the online service."

Junior doctors are due to begin a six-day walkout at 7am on Wednesday, January 3 (Image: PA)

READ MORE: NHS leaders say looming junior doctors' strike will put patients at serious risk

The spokesperson said patients could visit their local pharmacy, Urgent Treatment Centre, or GP practice if their condition was not life-threatening.

They added that anyone with a pre-booked hospital appointment should attend as planned unless they were asked to stay away.

"If we need to reschedule appointments, we will contact you. 

"We are also asking the public to help us by getting friends and relatives home when they are well enough to leave hospital. It will help us free up space within our hospitals more quickly."

Hospitals are already having to cope with rising rates of flu and Covid-19.

NHS leaders say the increase, coupled with the latest strike, means the hard-pressed service is facing a "storm of pressure".