FURNESS General Hospital bosses are assuring patients they should attend pre-arranged appointments and operations as normal today - when junior doctors are due to strike. 

The medics are due to walk out for 24 hours from 8am after the latest round of talks between union bosses and the Department of Health broke down. 

However, in a change from the original plans for the strike, the doctors, who work below consultant level in hospitals, will continue to provide emergency cover for A&E departments. 

The strike is likely to affect Furness General Hospital in Barrow where around 30 junior doctors opted for industrial action on January 12 over proposed changes to pay and working hours.

Today's action is expected to lead to similar disruption, with analysis by the NHS showing 1,150 planned inpatient procedures across England have been cancelled alongside 1,734 day procedures.

David Wilkinson, director of workforce and organisation development at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The trust has in place plans to deal with a range of disruptions, including industrial action. 

"Our experiences in dealing with the aftermath of Storm Desmond and the previous days of industrial action has given us the opportunity to review and refine these, so that they are robust plans that protect the safety, welfare and service provided to patients.

“Any patients with pre-arranged appointments or operations should attend as normal, unless they have been informed otherwise by the trust. 

"Patient safety and quality remains our top priority.”

While some progress is now said to have been made over the number of evening hours that attract an additional rate of pay - no agreement has been reached between unions and the government on premium rates of pay for doctors working weekends.