Health services in Croydon have postponed hundreds of appointments and called on senior consultants and nurses to help cover emergency care ahead of tomorrow’s junior doctor strikes.

More than 80 routine operations and 320 outpatient appointments have been postponed.

John Goulston, chief executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said: “We are again doing everything we can to maintain safe services and are bringing together our most experienced consultants, nurses and other clinical staff to continue providing care.

“We are prioritising all care which is urgent or cannot be safely delayed. Unfortunately, this means this does mean we have had to rearrange some non-urgent operations and appointments.

“We would like to reassure our patients that we have put in place extensive plans to ensure that we can continue to deliver safe, high-quality care during the planned industrial action.

“In the previous disputes we have been extremely busy but have coped well, because our staff have always gone that extra mile for our patients.”

LAST MONTH: Jeremy Hunt accused of "bullying approach" in decision to force junior doctor contracts

Junior doctors to strike again over Jeremy Hunt's decision to force new contracts

Junior doctors will walk off the job for 48-hours from 8am tomorrow in protest over Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s decision to force a new contract by August 1.

Under the contracts junior doctors will get an increase in their basic pay, but will have to work more weekends. Guaranteed pay rises linked to time in the job will be axed and bonus pay for working unsociable hours will be curbed.

Patients with scheduled appointments who have not been contacted by the Trust should attend as planned.

Anyone worried about their symptoms can speak to their GP or call the NHS on 111.