The public are being asked to use NHS services appropriately as junior doctors begin their fifth round of strikes.

From 7am on Friday 11 August until 7am on Tuesday 15 August, junior doctors across England will be on strike, as the NHS enters the ninth month of industrial action across its services.

The NHS will continue to prioritise emergency care during industrial action – the public should continue to use 999 in life threatening emergencies and NHS 111 online for other health concerns.

If you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital, go to NHS 111 online unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999. GP services and pharmacies are also available for patients and can be accessed in the normal way.

Planned and routine non-urgent care is expected to be disrupted when the junior doctors walk out. However, if you have not been contacted or informed  that your planned appointment has been postponed, then please attend as normal.

NHS England’s South East Medical Director, Vaughan Lewis, said: “Thank you to everyone for continuing to help us during the industrial action.

“Please continue to use NHS services responsibly as junior doctors strike for the fifth time.

“We are urging anyone with non-urgent care need to first seek help from NHS 111 online and only use 999 in a life-threatening emergency.”

Following a recent ruling by the High Court, employers can no longer use agency staff to fill in for striking workers during industrial action, which means some of the cover arrangements used during previous strikes will not be possible. However, the ruling does not apply to a hospital’s own ‘bank’ staff, and NHS Employers has provided guidance to trusts on this issue.