Medical facilities are expected to continue functioning with minimal disruption during next week’s planned strike action.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, responsible for providing physical, mental health and social care services across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, has confirmed that services should remain largely unaffected thanks to established contingency plans.

During the walkout, care provision will continue through strong teamwork across different professional groups, including senior doctors, specialist and specialist-grade physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and other clinical workers.

Dr Karl Marlowe, the chief medical officer at Oxford Health, said: We want to give patients and the public confidence that our services will remain operational throughout this industrial action period.

Those with existing appointments should attend unless they receive direct communication from the Trust advising otherwise.

Maintaining patient safety remains our foremost priority, and our various clinical teams will persist in working together to provide high-quality care.

We are grateful to every member of the Oxford Health workforce who will be supporting patients during this time.

The British Medical Association has verified that the strike action will begin at 7am on Tuesday, April 7, and conclude at 6.59am on Monday, April 13.

Nationally, the health service is asking members of the public to assist during the dispute by looking in on at-risk relatives and neighbours, making sure they have adequate supplies of prescribed medicines, and carrying a simple first aid kit when going out.

Those requiring immediate medical information should use the NHS 111 service.

For situations involving serious or life-threatening conditions, dialling 999 is the recommended course of action.