Junior doctors are taking industrial action, which "is very likely to have an impact on the services provided by the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust", hospital bosses have warned. 

Junior doctors are taking industrial action from 7am on Thursday (June 27) until 7am on Tuesday (July 2) as part of a long-running pay dispute with the government.

A spokesperson for the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said: "This action is very likely to have an impact on the services provided at our hospitals - Hertford County, Lister in Stevenage, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood and the New QEII in Welwyn Garden City.

"At all times, it is very important that you seek urgent care immediately if you need it – especially in emergency and life-threatening cases; if you are seriously ill or injured, or your life is at risk.

"We will prioritise urgent and emergency care.

"Our main priority during the industrial action is to ensure that patients receive emergency and life-saving care when needed. We have strong contingency plans and we are working with our healthcare partners to ensure that essential services continue to run.

"Because of the pressure our emergency and urgent care services are likely to be under during the industrial action, please only come to the emergency department at Lister Hospital if you have a serious injury or life-threatening emergency – for example heavy bleeding, severe chest pain or stroke-like symptoms."

Appointments and scheduled procedures may be postponed. You will be contacted directly if your appointment needs to be changed.

The NHS trust's spokesperson said: "If you have not received a message or phone call from us, please continue to attend your appointment as scheduled, even if it is on the day of industrial action.

"We are doing all we can to ensure as many appointments and procedures can go ahead as possible, but in some cases, as a result of industrial action, we may need to postpone at short notice."