People in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are being urged to use local healthcare services wisely and think about the best place for treatment and care with the two-day junior doctors’ strike and Bank Holiday looming.

As the industrial action and the long weekend fall within a few days of each other, both the local NHS – whose services are already under sustained high demand – and patients face a double challenge to be prepared.

For the first time, the industrial action will include A&E Departments like Royal Cornwall Hospital and Derriford Hospital. Junior doctors will be withdrawing their labour with hospital consultants providing essential clinical cover.

Industrial action is planned to take place from 8am-5pm on both Tuesday, 26 April and Wednesday, 27 April. The strike will be followed by a Bank Holiday on Monday, 2 May.

Dr Iain Chorlton, Chairman at NHS Kernow, said: “Local healthcare services are already stretched due to the sustained high demand – and we’ve got the ‘double whammy’ of the junior doctors’ strike and the Bank Holiday looming.

“We always urge patients to only visit A&E if it is a genuine emergency – and we especially emphasise that during the strike action, to focus on patients with the most serious needs.

“The public need to be aware that a full withdrawal of labour by junior doctors will place an increased demand on emergency services and, although doctors and staff will be on hand to manage this escalation, people can help by only visiting A&E if their situation is serious or life-threatening.

“Our main priority during this time will be to ensure patient safety, while limiting inconvenience to the public as much as possible, but, like any service which is challenged, there may be longer waiting times in A&E as the hospital will be working to full capacity.

“Ask yourself, is A&E for me? A&E is not the place to go with only minor illness or ailments. On strike days, patients attending A&E with only minor ailments risk lengthy waits and extra inconvenience. “You can save yourself time and effort by treating yourself with over the counter remedies, advice from your pharmacist or by calling the free, 24 hour NHS 111 helpline.

“It is more important than ever that the public choose their local doorstep services for the duration of the two days of industrial action and the forthcoming Bank Holiday.

“Taking a few simple steps to be prepared now could prevent something routine suddenly turning into an emergency – that means less stress for the patient and less pressure on NHS staff.

“The local NHS has tried and tested plans in place to cope with periods such as these, but we also know from experience that the pressures on staff can be added to in ways which are avoidable – people leaving it to the last minute to get their repeat prescriptions and then getting caught out, or not being aware of the options open to them and using A&E as the default choice.”

To find the most appropriate local health service visit www.kernowccg.nhs.uk/get-info/choose-well.

There is a 24 hour urgent care centre at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and another at Camborne-Redruth Community Hospital which is open from 11am to 7pm. Minor injury units are available at Bodmin, Camborne-Redruth, Falmouth, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard, Newquay, St Austell, St Barnabas, St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly) and Stratton community hospitals which can deal with minor injuries, such as cuts, burns, sprains, broken limbs and strains as well as treatment for minor illness. They also offer free parking.

People can visit their local pharmacist for confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common minor illnesses and complaints such as allergies, minor cuts, bruises and skin conditions. Most pharmacies can also help patients who need an urgent prescription for a supply of their normal prescribed medicines that they may have run out of. Instead of going to the out of hours service or A&E, patients can simply request their medicines from the local pharmacy, even if they are on holiday or visiting family.

If you have regular medication – please make sure you have collected your prescription from the GP and have been to the pharmacist to collect it, and have it to hand.

If you are a carer for an elderly person or someone with an underlying health condition, please ensure the person you look after has supplies of their regular medication and seek advice from a GP if they feel unwell. It’s also important to keep an eye out for your neighbours and those in the community who are more vulnerable. Minor conditions can deteriorate quickly, particularly among the elderly and those with long-term conditions such as diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To improve patient flow, people are also encouraged to support the discharge process from hospitals by collecting relatives and friends at the earliest opportunity when they are ready to leave, and where circumstances allow and it’s safe to do so, to look after them for a day or two whilst care packages are organised. Any delay at this point can cause crowding in A&E and problems for new admissions.

More information and advice about the planned junior doctors’ strike is available at www.nhs.uk/strike