The NHS across Herefordshire will be significantly disrupted throughout the festive season and into next year.

The Christmas bank holidays along with strike action due to take place from December 20 to 23 and again from January 3 to 9 is expected to result in serious challenges for all NHS services in the county, an NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire spokesperson said.

During strike action, the NHS will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.

Appointments will only be cancelled where it is necessary and will be rescheduled immediately, where possible.

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NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Will Taylor said: “We are working closely with our partners to make sure patients can access the care they need, in a safe environment, during industrial action and over the Christmas bank holidays.”

 “We’re doing all we can to ensure we provide safe services during the industrial action this week,” said Dr James Bartlett of the Wye Valley NHS Trust.

“We’re expecting it to be very busy and we can only do so much. We really are appealing for people to help us by choosing wisely and only visit our Emergency Department if they are seriously sick. There are alternatives and we’d urge people to consider these.”

 “If you have an appointment, please continue to come forward for the care you need. Please don’t call to check if your hospital appointment is going ahead, you’ll be contacted directly if it needs to be rearranged.”