FOUR local hospitals will be on alert when the latest — and most serious — junior doctors' strike takes place next week.

Junior doctors held 48 hours of industrial action starting on April 6 and will be out on the picket line again from 8am to 5am on Tuesday and Wednesday.

For the first time, emergency cover will be withdrawn, leaving senior practitioners in sole control of wards and A&E.

Health bosses form Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs Fairfield, North Manchester and Royal Oldham hospitals as well as Rochdale Infirmary, have held two key meetings to prepare.

Operations have been cancelled and non-emergency appointments with patients have been rearranged.

A source within the trust, who asked not to be named, said the number of cancelled operations would be "significantly higher" than before.

He estimated that it would take many weeks for staff at North Manchester to clear the backlog.

However, a trust spokesman reassured patients that those whose appointments are postponed will not go to to the back of the queue.

He added: "Our A&E staff are already working incredibly hard under huge demand and pressure.

"Local pharmacy, GP, NHS 111 and the NHS Choices website are all able to offer advice and/or treat minor conditions.

"Patients should stock up with any medications in good time beforehand.

"Updates will be issued at pat.nhs.uk"

The dispute concerns a proposed new working contract for junior doctors as the Department for Health tries to boost staffing levels at weekend staffing levels.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said he plans to impose the contract onto junior doctors, but unions have launched a legal challenge, claiming he has no legal power to do so.

The Department for Health labelled next week's strike as "both desperate and irresponsible," claiming it will "inevitably put patients in harm's way."

However, the British Medical Association has said senior doctors will be able to perform their duties safely.

But Dr Johann Malawana, of the BMA, said: "No junior doctor wants to take this action but the government has left us with no choice.

"The government is refusing to get back around the table and is ploughing ahead with plans to impose a contract junior doctors have no confidence in and have roundly rejected."