WIRRAL Hospital Trust says 'robust plans' are in place to deal with the disruption caused by a planned strike by junior doctors in a row over pay and conditions tomorrow.

Emergency care will be provided only for 24 hours from 8am on Tuesday. It will be followed by full walkouts from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and 16.

There is expected to be mass disruption to the NHS, with hospitals forced to cancel outpatient clinics and non-urgent operations.

It follows a ballot organised by the British Medical Association (BMA), in which 98% of junior doctors voted in favour of strikes. More than 37,000 doctors were balloted.

Government negotiators are meeting with British Medical Association officials today for last-ditch efforts to reach an agreement that would head off a strike by junior doctors over pay and working conditions.

Wirral University Hospital Trust said robust plans are in place to deal with the expected disruption.

In a joint statement with the BMA it said: "We have tried and tested plans to deal with a range of disruptions including industrial action.

"Trust management and union representatives have worked closely together to put robust plans in place to ensure the safety, welfare and service provided to patients.

"Significant amounts of normal elective activity have been postponed and all patients advised accordingly.

"Their procedures will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

"Patients in need of urgent and emergency care will continue to receive the treatment they need, when they need it.

"However, due to increased pressures during this period, those in less urgent need of care may experience longer waiting times than normal.

"To help alleviate any pressure on our hospitals we would ask people to plan so that they know what to do if they need medical care during the course of this industrial action and remind them of the other healthcare options available instead attending the Emergency Department such as visiting their pharmacist or GP, calling NHS 111 or using NHS Choices.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had previously refused to agree to discussions unless BMA officials came to the negotiating table first, but changed his mind on Wednesday when he told BMA chairman Dr Mark Porter "any talks are better than strikes".