Hospital bosses scrambling to mitigate a junior doctors' strike have asked patients to go to their GP if they have concerns about accessing medical care.

But Epsom and St Helier hospitals said people who needed emergency care would still be able to receive treatment during the industrial dispute.

Junior doctors will provide only emergency care for 24 hours from 8am tomorrow and will resume normal care on Wednesday morning.

A hospital spokeswoman said: "Following the junior doctors’ ballot on industrial action, we wanted to assure local people that we are working hard to make sure any disruption to services is kept to a minimum, wherever possible.

"We are taking the appropriate measures to ensure that services and the quality of patient care we provide are not comprised.

"If there are changes to an appointment that you have arranged at our hospitals on any day of action, we will contact you. If you do not hear from us, please assume your appointment remains unchanged."

During the strike Epsom and St Helier have said that those looking after children, the elderly, and people with long-term conditions should contact their GP about accessing medical care.

But patients may experience disruptions as elective operations may be postponed and patients needing may experience longer waiting times ahead of tomorrow's junior doctors' strike.

Other healthcare options are available such as visiting your pharmacist, your GP, calling NHS 111, or using NHS Choices online.

Bosses said patients should only call 999 in the case of an emergency.

Two full walk-out strikes are set for Tuesday, December 8, and Wednesday, December 16. The strikes will take place between 8am and 5pm on both dates.

Update: In the past few hours Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced a 'potential deal' that will bring the strike to a halt.