Patients who have a planned operation, outpatient clinic or procedure between Thursday 24 August and Friday 25 August should attend as usual unless they hear directly to advise otherwise.

There will be no disruption to patient visiting arrangements on these days. Patients are advised not to attend the Emergency Departments unless conditions/symptoms are serious or life-threatening.

If people have an urgent care need but are not sure which service to use, they are asked to visit 111.nhs.uk in the first instance or call 111 for advice. The 111 phone service can book people into local NHS services if required but is likely to see an increase in calls.

Professor Mark Pietroni, medical director, said: "The impact of this wave of strikes will be mostly felt across outpatients and elective procedures. Once more we've focused our energy on preserving as much activity as possible, maintaining emergency and inpatient care, and ensuring ongoing focus on cancer care and long waiters. Our highest priority will be to care for those in most immediate and urgent need.

"Patients who have a planned hospital operation, outpatient clinic or procedure between Thursday 24 August or Friday 25 August, 2023 should attend as usual unless they hear from their NHS Trust to advise otherwise.

"We are urging local people to only access A&E at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals or call 999 if their condition is life-threatening or very serious.

"There will be no disruption to patient visiting arrangements on these days. However, we are asking relatives and carers to do everything they can to work with our staff to get their loved ones home from hospital as quickly and as safely as possible, with additional support, if necessary, from local NHS community services or adult social care teams."