The South Western Ambulance Service is urging patients to only call 999 in a life-threatening or life-changing emergency as NHS staff go on strike again on Monday in the latest action as part of an ongoing pay dispute.

The ambulance service in the region will see a strike by members of the GMB union on Monday, February 6, involving paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff, followed by Unison members walking out on Friday, February 10.

Nurses are also due to be on strike on Monday at the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and community hospitals including at Wellington and Minehead. It is the first day of a planned two-day national strike by the Royal College of Nursing over pay and conditions.

The ambulance service said in a statement: “On days where there is strike action, people should continue to call 999 if there is a medical or mental health emergency [when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk].

“Ambulances will be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is the most immediate risk to life.

“Where the situation is not life-threatening, people should seek alternative support through NHS 111 online or through calling NHS 111, and where possible, it is advised that members of the public arrange alternative transport if they need to visit a healthcare facility.

“While the NHS remains open to anyone that needs it, there are some things people can do ahead of and during the upcoming industrial action to help ensure services can care for everyone who needs it, including having enough medication in stock, both prescription and self-care.”

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital, said patients should attend appointments as planned on the strike days, unless contacted directly about a cancellation. Visitors to in-patients can attend as normal.

A spokesperson said: “The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trades Unions about terms and conditions. While we fully respect individuals’ right to strike, we are also committed to maintaining patient care as much as possible and providing the most essential services on these days.”

The ambulance service strike on Monday is the first of four planned by the GMB union over the next few weeks, on February 6 and 20, and March 6 and 20, involving paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff.

On Friday, February 10, members of the Unison who work for the South Western Ambulance Service will join strike action affecting five trusts in England. Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton said: “Ministers must stop fobbing the public off with promises of a better NHS, while not lifting a finger to solve the staffing emergency staring them in the face.”

The South Western Ambulance Service has issued the following advice for patients:

Which service should I access?

Self-care – visit online for self-care advice for things like grazed knees, coughs and colds

Pharmacy – visit your local pharmacy for headaches, upset stomachs, aches and pains

NHS 111 – visit online or call 111 for advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week

GP – call your GP for symptoms that won’t go away

999 – call 999 for life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren’t stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions, suspected stroke and serious head injuries.

Meanwhile the NHS Confederation, which represents the healthcare system in England and Wales, warned that tens of thousands of appointments had been cancelled across the country during the strikes, and said the impact of the wave of industrial action put at risk progress to clear treatment backlogs and improve emergency care.

A spokesperson said: “With no end in sight and the possibility of strikes from junior doctors and hospital consultants on the horizon, the increasing concern from health leaders is not solely about the harm and disruption on the day but on the cumulative impact on the NHS and local communities. Health leaders are urging the government to show initiative or risk longer waiting times for the public and progress being stalled on vital reforms.”

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “NHS leaders have managed the impact of the individual strike days very well up until now, but they are growing increasingly restless about the impact this dispute is having on patient care at a time when they have made solid progress to recover services after the pandemic.

“We face a hugely disruptive week for patients and the government cannot afford to let this escalate any further. We urge ministers to take the first step and find a resolution to this deadlock with the unions.

“It is not only the disruption on the day that is a cause of worry but the longer-term damage on service delivery, staff morale, reform, and how the public engages with the NHS too. As there appears to be no end to industrial action in sight and with at least 10,7000 elective procedures having had to be cancelled already because of the strikes, health leaders fear a further escalation will only make the NHS’s recovery even harder.”

The Royal College of Nursing said: “For the first time in history, tens of thousands of our members took part in strikes in December 2022 to demand fair pay and improved patient safety.

“As the Westminster government has failed to act, we have been forced to escalate our strike action. In England, our members will strike again on Monday 6 February and Tuesday 7 February.”

Physiotherapists in Somerset will not be joining a strike action taking place elsewhere in England on Thursday, February 9.

Meanwhile The British Medical Association (BMA) is running a strike ballot for junior doctors until February 20 in their pay dispute, and says staff will walk out for 72 hours in March if the ballot is successful.

NHS England said: “The NHS wants to see a resolution as soon as possible, but pay is a matter for the Government and the trade unions.”