A 48-hour walkout by junior doctors is underway, affecting health services in north and west Cumbria.

It is part of a long running national dispute between the British Medical Association (BMA) and Department of Health.

Previous strike action - including a picket last month - has been supported by about 100 junior doctors across the area. Pickets have been held at the Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital and in Carlisle city centre.

Local health leaders say contingency plans to minimise the impact on patients have previously been successful.

They are however urging people to only use already under-pressure A&E departments in genuine emergencies.

Dr David Rogers, medical director for NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group and lead for the North Cumbria System Resilience Group, said: “We have already seen our contingency plans tested by strike action by junior doctors. Our first priority is patient safety and we can reassure the public that all NHS organisations in Cumbria have tried and tested plans in place.

“As ever, we would urge people using NHS services to ‘help us to help you’ by using the right service for your needs. A&E is for serious and life threatening injuries and conditions.”

Related article: Advice for patients during strike

During recent strike action some clinics and outpatients appointments have been cancelled, but bosses say numbers have been very small. They anticipate this to be the case again this time.

Anyone in need of health advice can visit the NHS Choices website.

The latest strike is due to end at 8am Friday.