PEOPLE are being urged to only attend A&E departments in Bradford and Airedale hospitals with life or limb-threatening emergencies.

Junior doctors and consultants in the British Medical Association are set to strike, with junior doctors' five-day action starting tomorrow (July 12) and consultants' two-day action planned for next week.

NHS leaders are asking people to only attend A&E departments across the district with life-threatening emergencies as hospitals will be under significant pressure due to the extended strike action.

If people attend A&E with non-urgent or emergency conditions they will be waiting significantly longer than usual.

If you need medical help or advice, or are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, visit NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999.

The junior doctors’ industrial action, which affects hospitals across the country, begins Thursday, July 13, and ends at 7am on Tuesday, July 18.

The consultants’ industrial action begins at 7am on July 20 and ends at 7am on July 22.

"If people have not been contacted, you should continue to attend your hospital appointment as planned," said a spokesperson for the hospital trusts. 

"We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled."

Saj Azeb, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Both periods of industrial action will severely reduce the number of doctors and consultants we have in our hospitals, and this has a particular impact in A&E. That’s why we have to prioritise the clinically most urgent patients.

“People can really help us during this time by only using A&E services when absolutely necessary. There are many other ways to get healthcare advice and treatment which will be quicker and will help us care for those who need us most.”

Leanne Cooper, chief operating officer at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We need the public’s help to only come to A&E if it is a genuine emergency so we can care for our sickest patients.

“The impact of the industrial action and the fact we will have fewer doctors and consultants on-site means that waiting times for non-urgent problems are likely to be longer than normal. We encourage you to seek help from NHS 111, your GP or local pharmacist and avoid a long wait.”