Hospital bosses are urging people not to go to A&E unless they have a real emergency during the full junior doctors walk out.

Thousands of junior doctors went on strike in the first full withdrawal of service in NHS history yesterday and will be out on the picket line again today. 

The action came as 74% of Oxford Mail readers said they would be supporting the two-day doctors' strike. 

It was the first time junior doctors did not provide emergency and urgent care cover during the planned industrial action, which also runs from 8am to 5pm today.

One in five junior doctors crossed picket lines yesterday in the first all-out strike in NHS history while 20,000 refused to go to work.

Hospital bosses are asking patients not to attend A&E unless they have a real medical emergency during the strike.

But Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust clinical services director Paul Brennan insisted urgent and emergency care will still be provided to those who need it.

He added: "We are working closely with all of our staff to ensure that services continue to be safe during the planned industrial action.

"We regret that the two sides have yet to reach an agreement at a national level and we are very sorry for the inconvenience this is causing to our patients.

"We would request patients not to come to our Emergency Departments unless you have a real emergency. Please look at the alternatives available."

Junior doctor Rachel Clarke, 43, had been protesting outside the Department of Health in London since 8am yesterday and spent last night sleeping on the pavement.

The mother-of-two from Wheatley, who works at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said: "It's a pretty desperate act in response to a pretty desperate set of circumstances.

"I do think Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt should resign.

"If you want to bring about change in an institution you have to bring your workforce with you but he has demoralised doctors since this dispute began.

"Junior doctors have been resigning live on TV and that's a catastrophe."

Dr Nadia Randazzo, 28, is on the picketline again today at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

She said: "We had overwhelming support from the public yesterday - people drove from Witney and from around the county to be with us and show their support.

"At one point we had about 100 staff gathered on the picket line and we will be here today until about noon and after that we have arranged a series of activities, including life support training for the local community.

"There are neonatal support sessions and advice sessions for parents.

"What we need now is for the Government to come back to the negotiating table and work out a safe contract. We are doing this for the longevity of the NHS."

Oxford Mail:

After joining about 200 junior doctors outside the Department of Health Mrs Clarke returned to Oxford yesterday.

Urgent and emergency care will be provided at the county's hospitals, including maternity, oncology, renal dialysis and trauma. But non-urgent elective operations and outpatient appointments will be rescheduled.

Patients with major injuries or illnesses, severe chest pains, breathing difficulties, severe allergies or burns or bleeding are recommended to go straight to A&E.

Oxford Mail:

But people with other minor injuries or conditions are asked to speak to their GP or go to a minor injuries clinic or pharmacist for advice.

South Central Ambulance Service issued a statement recognising the rights of junior doctors to take industrial action and urging members of the public to use its services appropriately and only call 999 if "absolutely essential".

This is the fifth strike over the ongoing contract row between junior doctors and the Department of Health (DoH).

Oxford Mail:

The row centres on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's decision to impose a new contract on them, which he says will create a 24/7 NHS and give junior doctors a pay increase.

But medics say the contract will put staff and patients at risk because it stretches the existing resources more thinly across seven days instead of just five.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith was among politicians visiting staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

He said: "Like the overwhelming majority of the public I support the junior doctors' campaign.

"I think the Government has been very confrontational and handled this situation in a very bad way.

"The gap between the position of the Government and the British Medical Association is not that large and both sides should agree a compromise as soon as possible."

For more information visit nhs.uk/strike