Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that resident doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) will be taking part in planned industrial action this month.
The action is scheduled to run from 7am on Wednesday 17 December until 7am on Monday 22 December. The Trust has stressed that the dispute is between the BMA and the government, and not with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust itself.
Despite the planned strike action, the Trust is urging patients to **continue attending any appointments as normal**, unless they are contacted directly to cancel or rearrange.
A spokesperson for the Trust said teams are working hard to minimise disruption to services and have asked the public to help by using the most appropriate NHS service for their needs during this period.
Patients are advised to:
* Use the Emergency Department only for life-saving and critical care
* Attend an Urgent Treatment Centre or Minor Injuries Unit for issues such as cuts, animal bites, rashes, lacerations, or injuries that may require an X-ray or stitches
* Contact their GP or NHS 111 for routine health advice. NHS 111 can be reached online at [www.111.nhs.uk](http://www.111.nhs.uk) or by phone
The Trust thanked local residents for their continued understanding and support, adding: “We’re extremely grateful to the public for helping us protect urgent and emergency services during this period.”
Further updates will be shared if there are any changes to services.
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