In response to the planned industrial action, the NHS locally is calling on local people to help minimise disruption as far as possible and to safeguard patient care.
Junior doctors at all major hospitals in the mid and south Essex area are scheduled to strike for three days, starting at 7am on Wednesday, 20 December, and ending at 7am on Saturday, 23 December.
This will be followed by a more prolonged strike, beginning at 7am on Wednesday, 3 January, and concluding at 7am on Tuesday, 9 January.
Local people are being urged to plan ahead if they take prescribed medication regularly, by making sure they have enough to last until the New Year.
GP practices across mid and south Essex will be closed on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 December. They will reopen on Wednesday 27 December until Friday 29 December, with normal service resuming from Tuesday 2 January.
Urgent and emergency services will be under pressure and waiting times for care may be considerably longer than usual.
Additionally, some routine and pre-planned appointments may need to be postponed due to having to reprioritise those with urgent needs during industrial action. Patients affected by these changes being contacted directly.
Go to the Mid and South Essex ICB website for a guide to health services this festive season
