HEALTH bosses have warned of disruption this week for Hampshire’s hospitals and emergency departments as junior doctors are set to strike.

Junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) are taking part in three days of industrial action from 7am on Wednesday, June 7 until 7am on Saturday, June 17.

Read more: RECAP: Fire service called to Crown Heights as GP surgery is cordoned off

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has confirmed that junior doctors from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals, will be participating in the planned strike.

The ICB is urging people to help the local NHS by “keeping emergency departments free for those who need them most” during the strikes.

It said: “We are anticipating that our hospitals and emergency departments are going to be very busy and are therefore asking people to help us help you, by choosing the right service.

“During a further period of inevitable disruption, patient safety remains our absolute priority. Therefore, we continue to work with partners across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight health and care system to ensure that people who require access to services receive care and treatment in as timely a way as possible.”

See also: Increase in bee swarms in Basingstoke as 55 reported - what to do if you spot one

Anyone with an urgent medical problem can visit 111 online at 111.nhs.uk.

Urgent Treatment Centres and pharmacies are equipped to deal with minor injuries, such as cuts and sprains.

The ICB asked people to only go to A&E for “life-threatening accidents and emergencies”.

Patients with appointments booked on strike days will be contacted by the NHS if their appointment needs to be rescheduled due to industrial action. If you have not been contacted, you should attend your appointment as planned.

Dr Tim Cooper, joint chief medical officer for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB said: “No one should put off seeking urgent care in an emergency during the strike action, however we are urging people to only attend our Emergency Departments if it is a life or limb threatening situation.

“There are a number of alternative services including pharmacies, urgent treatment centres (UTCs), Healthier Together and 111 online. By using one of these alternative services, it allows our teams in our Emergency Departments to attend to those patients who urgently need care and attention. If you have an appointment during the industrial action, then please continue to attend as planned unless you have been contacted to reschedule.

“We are working closely with our partners across the counties to plan, prepare and mitigate the potential impact and patient care remains our top priority. We are working hard to ensure that we continue to deliver the best level of care possible.”