Junior Doctors' full walk out this morning - What do you do if you need medical help?

Junior doctors will walkout this morning in the first strike of it's kind in the history of the NHS. It's the first time emergency care will be withdrawn as part of their row over contracts.

Thousands of junior doctors are expected to walkout from 8am until 5pm today - 26th April and tomorrow. The Health Secretary says the action is extreme and "risks the safety of many patients."

Patients will still be there in droves, but the bulk of the staff who normally minister to their needs – that is, junior doctors – will be absent.

The majority of them will be participating in the first all-out strike in protest at the Government’s proposed new contract. All-out means no care whatsoever from juniors: no regular appointments, no operations, no emergency care – even for pregnant women, children and babies.

People are being warned to only visit if a condition is serious or life-threatening.

The strike will be the fifth this year against health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s proposed changes to the doctors’ contract but the first, and the first ever for the NHS, where no emergency cover will be provided.

Over two days, April 23-24, junior doctors will strike over issues including levels of care in the NHS, new contracts and Saturday premium pay.

Jeremy Hunt earlier issued a last minute statement appealing to doctors to call off the strike.In a statement to MPs, he justified doctors’ rate of weekend pay by highlighting that they are paid higher than nurses and other hospital staff.

If you need an ambulance, you should dial 999. If it’s not life-threatening, but you need medical help and you are unsure of where to go dial 111, the free NHS helpline, instead.

The GP out-of -hours service can offer appointments if your GP is closed and you need to see a doctor and pharmacies can also offer advice and provide over the counter treatment for minor health issues.

Top Photo: Junior Doctors candlelit vigil on 25th April 2016 - Ms Jane Campbell Shutterstock.com