THE region’s hospitals have put preparations in place for a 72-hour strike by junior doctors which began today.

Junior doctors account for more than 40 per cent of the medical workforce so disruption across the country is anticipated.

The Royal Cornwall NHS Trust is making it clear that people who do need urgent medical care must still come forward for treatment and those with planned appointments should attend, unless they have been contacted.

However, they are asking those with non-urgent problems to first contact NHS 111 online or by phone or considering using minor injury units.

In a statement they said: “Some junior doctors are expected to take part in industrial action between 7am on Monday, March 13 and 7am on Thursday. March 16.

“Regardless of any strike action, it is vital that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening situations.

“People should attend planned appointments unless they have been contacted by the NHS.”

They went on to ask people to choose services wisely, pointing out all the options. They are also asking families, friends and neighbours to work with staff to get patients home from hospital when they are fit for discharge.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which includes Derriford Hospital, said: “We are committed to keeping patient and staff safety as our priority.

“Please be reassured that we are all working together to care for all of our patients and their loved ones.

“Please be patient and kind to our staff if you are finding yourself experiencing a wait for our services.

“We’ve been working very closely with the unions to try and keep as many of our services running as possible, but we know our patients.”

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has postponed outpatient activity and the majority of planned surgery.

The said: “This, of course, is not a decision we have taken lightly but in order to preserve life-saving care it is an action we have to take to get us through this period of action to enable us to focus on those patients who are already in our hospitals and those needing to urgent and emergency care.”

They say they will have been in touch directly with people whose appointments have been affected.

More than 36,000 junior doctors across the country are set to strike on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in England. They are asking for a pay rise of 35 per cent.