NHS bosses have warned hospitals to free up beds to prepare for "extensive disruption" caused by planned ambulance strikes.
Ambulance staff from nine trusts including North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) will walk out on December 21 and 28 in an ongoing dispute over pay. The coordinated walkout by the three main ambulance unions - Unison, Unite and GMB - will affect non-life threatening calls only.
Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff will strike after voting against the imposed 4% pay award. GMB said the pay award was a "massive real terms pay cut".