PATIENTS in Redditch and Bromsgrove are being advised to only use A&E in an emergency, ahead of an all out strike of junior doctors.

Junior doctors are expected to stage a fifth strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26 and 27, when they will fully withdraw labour between the hours of 8am and 5pm each day.

In previous strikes junior doctors provided emergency care but the industrial action planned for this week will see a full walk out of junior doctors, with no cover - the first in the NHS' history.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and Kidderminster Hospital, has put plans in place which they say will mitigate the impact of the industrial action including providing cover for key services and making sure that patients in need of emergency care continue to receive the treatment they need.

But, as A&E departments are expected to be busy, anyone needing non-emergency medical treatment is being urged to use other health services during the strike period.

Deb Critchley, interim urgent care lead for the three Worcestershire clinical commissioning groups, said: "We anticipate that health services across the county will be very busy.

“Patients will need to be aware of this and how they can help services run as smoothly as possible.

"A number of health services will be open as usual including local pharmacies, GP practices and minor injury units.

"If you need medical help fast but it’s not an emergency you can call NHS 111, which is a free service and which can provide medical advice.

“It is important to note, however, that these services will also be experiencing higher demand than usual.”

Junior doctors are objecting to a new contract which the Government says will create a truly seven-day service.

The major sticking point has been over weekend pay and whether Saturdays should attract extra "unsocial" payments.

Last week, the British Medical Association (BMA) said it would call off the latest strike if Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt lifted his threat to impose the contract on junior doctors.

But Mr Hunt rejected the BMA's offer saying it was not possible to "change or delay" the introduction of the controversial contract.