The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced further strikes by junior doctors in late February.

The industrial action is scheduled to take place for five days from 7am on Saturday 24 February until 11:59pm on Wednesday 28 February.

To help us safely manage the impact of the industrial action we will need to postpone some appointments and procedures.

We'll contact you directly if your care or your child's care is affected to rearrange your appointment as quickly as possible. If you do not hear from us, please attend your appointment as usual.

We apologise in advance to anyone impacted. These measures have been taken to ensure we can provide the safest care to those who need it the most.

Advice for patients:

Our 24/7 crisis line will remain open as usual and so if you live in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge or Waltham Forest, you can call for mental health help and advice anytime, day or night. Call  0800 995 1000. If you live in Essex, Kent and Medway, call NHS 111 (option 2).

For more details and services for urgent help, you can visit: I need help | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

If your condition is not life threatening you can go to NHS 111 online, as well as visit your local pharmacist or GP.  For life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999 or visit A&E.

To avoid delays in getting your medicines or the risk of running out of medicines during strikes please order prescriptions in good time.

Those who just need to talk, any time of day or night can access free confidential listening services:

• Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
• Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
• If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.

For a list of more NHS and charity mental health services, visit Mental health services – NHS