PATIENTS at Musgrove Park were issued advice as the hospital was hit by fresh strike action.

Junior doctors with the British Medical Association walked out on Saturday, February 24 and are not set to return until Wednesday, February 28.

They were joined in the walkout by junior doctors from the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, who are striking until Thursday, February 29.

The NHS Somerset Foundation Trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital, said the ongoing dispute would affect the hospital, and issued advice to patients needing care over during the period of industrial action.

In a statement a spokesperson for NHS Somerset FT said those needing emergency treatment should attend the hospital as usual:

“Patient safety is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining patient care as much as possible and providing the most essential services on these days. We will only reschedule appointments and procedures where necessary and will rebook as soon as possible.

“If you have an appointment, please attend as planned. Please don’t call to check if your appointment is going ahead. If your appointment is affected by industrial action, we will contact you directly. Maternity services will be running as usual. For details visit our Maternity pages.

“Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”