Urgent and emergency care is expected to be prioritised in Berkshire during the longest-ever NHS strike this month.

Junior doctors in England are expected to walk out from 7am on January 3 to the same time on January 9 over a pay dispute.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which manages many of east Berkshire’s health services, has warned of “widespread disruption” expected during the strike.

The trust’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Timothy Ho said: “These strikes come at a time that will cause huge disruption to the NHS, with services already feeling the strain of winter pressure.

“All health and care partners are working together, and we have drawn up contingency plans but we are concerned as this round of industrial action will see junior doctors on strike for six days.

“We are working closely with partners to ensure we prioritise urgent and emergency care for patients, but we do need the public to continue to support us and use the right health service to meet their needs.”

Patients are advised to continue using medical services as normal if they need urgent help – with 999 and A&E available in serious and life-threatening emergencies.

General practice, community pharmacies and dentistry will remain open on the strike days.

However, the strikes are expected to impact on routine care at many trust facilities, including additional administrative burdens and difficulties discharging patients.

People are asked to carefully choose which NHS services best suit their needs on strike days, with 999 and A&E being only recommended for serious emergencies.

Other services including GPs and the NHS 111 phone number are available for non-life saving emergencies and other health problems.

Patients are advised by the trust that it may take longer than expected to be seen and treated on strike days – and are asked to collect friends and family from hospitals as soon as they are ready to be discharged.

Anyone displaying symptoms of flu or Covid – or who has been in contact with someone testing positive for coronavirus – should stay away from hospitals unless it is an emergency.

Chief Medical Officer for NHS Frimley ICB Dr Lalitha Iyer said: “There are steps we can all take to make sure we use the most appropriate service for our needs and ensure that help can be prioritised to those who need it most.

“It’s very important that people who need medical care come forward, especially when someone has a life-threatening illness or injury.

“If you are unwell or injured, it’s important to choose the right service to make sure you get the best treatment as quickly as possible.”

Further information about accessing the right services can be found online.