Health officials in Lancashire and South Cumbria are bracing themselves for another round of strikes as junior doctors plan to walk out for 96 hours straight.

The strikes, set to begin on Friday, August 11, and end on Tuesday, August 15, mark the ninth month of industrial action across the NHS.

The strikes have already had a significant impact, with approximately 778,000 hospital appointments and over 458,000 staff shifts interrupted since they began.

Lindsey Dickinson, associate medical director for primary care at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), has warned that the strikes will lead to considerable service disruption.

She said: “The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage the disruption caused by industrial action, but these unprecedented strikes will lead to significant service disruption.

"We are asking people to use services wisely especially as this round of industrial action coincides with the summer school holidays, meaning services will be under even more pressure.

“Due to this, services may feel different for patients as they could face longer waits and deferred treatment. Please make sure you use NHS 111 online as the first port of call for health needs and only use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.”

The NHS will contact patients whose appointments need to be rescheduled due to the strikes, and patients who have not been contacted should attend their appointments as planned.

Junior doctors play a crucial role in the NHS, making up around half of all doctors.

These doctors have varying amounts of experience, ranging from up to eight years as a hospital doctor depending on their specialty, to up to three years in general practice.

With the strikes set to disrupt services, local NHS websites and social media channels will be providing up-to-date information about service disruptions.

Patients are encouraged to check these channels for the latest information before traveling.

For those seeking general health information, advice on symptoms, emergency prescriptions, or emergency dental appointments, NHS 111 Online is recommended.

The national NHS website also provides information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.