HEALTH union members will be taking industrial action across Cumbria's NHS sites next week.

The walkout starts on Monday November 24 from 7am until 11am in ongoing industrial action over a 1 per cent pay offer from the Government.

Work to rule will then follow every day until Friday November 28.

Cumbria’s NHS organisations say it will be working together to minimise disruption to services.

It said the previous action on October 17 was handled with minimum disruption, although, as previously, there may be some changes to planned services.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are intending to run as normal a service as possible, particularly Monday morning.

But it warns of a knock on effect due to the action being undertaken by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) staff.

NWAS is asking the public to consider if a 999 call on Monday November 24 is really necessary which will help their communities by only calling for life-threatening emergencies. The ambulance service is expecting to operate with a substantial reduction in its workforce during the hours of 7am-11am.

It says this will undoubtedly put pressure on the service and may result in delays for some patients.

It suggests a large percentage of patients who call for an ambulance can be dealt with more effectively in their local community by their GP, 111 or an Out of Hours Service.

It says real emergencies are considered to be, for example, when someone has chest pain, difficulty in breathing, severe abdominal pain, collapsed, severe bleeding, had a serious accident or fall, or overdosed.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust UHMBT says it will be disrupted as follows.

All emergency activity will continue as normal. A small number of operations have been cancelled and patients have been informed.

They will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Two outpatient clinics and two ante-natal clinics have been cancelled and patients have been contacted. Contingency plans are in place for all services.