Health advice has been issued for anyone impacted by strikes this week.
Nurses are set to stage a walk out on Wednesday and Thursday this week as a row over pay continues and "patient care is suffering like never before". The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said nurses will strike on January 18 and 19 which follows on from December strikes where thousands of nurses took to the picket line.
During the strike action, the health service will most likely run a bank holiday-style service in many areas.
For the strikes this week, the RCN has agreed to still staff chemotherapy, emergency cancer services, dialysis, critical care units, neonatal and paediatric intensive care.
READ MORE: Roll-out of new Merseyrail trains imminent as deal finally agreed
Advice has been issued as some services could be impacted this week. NHS trusts across Merseyside are urging people to attend A&E for serious illnesses and to continue attending appointments unless cancelled.
The St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said any planned appointments that are impacted, patients will be contacted via telephone. If you are not contacted, your appointment will still go ahead as planned.
The NHS trust website says: "Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is extremely important that you continue to seek medical advice if needed. Anyone who needs urgent medical care should continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening situations - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
"We’re urging people to make NHS 111 Online their first port of call if they need urgent health advice on days of strike action."
Liverpool's NHS trust adds: "Please attend your appointments as normal on 18 and 19 January. The strikes planned for these days do not involve our hospitals. Our A&Es remain extremely busy, so please only attend in an emergency."
NHS 111 can give advice on where to get help for your symptoms, how to get a repeat prescription and where to get an emergency supply of prescribed medicine. People are urged to contact the service if they are feeling unwell and need advice.
People are encouraged to only attend A&E or call 999 for serious illnesses such as choking, chest pains, blood loss and blacking out. Pharmacists can help with minor illnesses, stomach upsets and bites and stings and GPs can help with persistent symptoms, prescriptions, chronic pains and long-term conditions.
The NHS trust confirmed GP services are not impacted by this strike action and unless told otherwise, appointments should still be attended as planned. However, those needing repeat prescriptions are being advised to order them "well in advance".
Maternity services will also not be affected by this industrial action. Cancer care appointments should also be attended unless contacted otherwise.
For anyone needing urgent mental health crisis support, 24/7 support is available for children, young people and adults in St Helens, Halton, Knowsley and Warrington. For direct support from a trained professional, text REACH to 85258 or call the Mental Health Crisis Team on 0800 051 1508.
The ECHO previously reported that nurses will stage two more strikes next month as the row with the Government over pay shows no clear sign of reaching a resolution. In an escalation of industrial action, the RCN said nurses will strike on February 6 and 7, with more NHS trusts taking part.
RCN chief executive Pat Cullen said of the latest strike announcement: "It is with a heavy heart that nursing staff are striking this week and again in three weeks. Rather than negotiate, (Prime Minister) Rishi Sunak has chosen strike action again.
"We are doing this in a desperate bid to get him and ministers to rescue the NHS. The only credible solution is to address the tens of thousands of unfilled jobs - patient care is suffering like never before. My olive branch to Government - asking them to meet me halfway and begin negotiations - is still there. They should grab it."
The RCN has been calling for a pay rise at 5% above inflation, though it has said it will accept a lower offer.
Inflation was running at 7.5% when it submitted the 5% figure to the independent pay review body in March.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT
Woman in serious condition after 'machete' attack as man remains in custody
Stomach churning photos show inside Chinese takeaway hit with £6,000 fine
Live updates as ice causes travel disruption across Merseyside
When will teachers across Merseyside go on strike? Full list of dates
Gangster who 'shared TikTok rap videos from prison' up for parole
