More than 160 patients at Medway Maritime Hospital have been affected by this week’s junior doctors’ strike.

They have been taking action since Wednesday over government plans for new contracts, which they feel will affect pay and working conditions.

The strike is planned to end tomorrow but the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced another two-day walkout, in which even emergency cover will be withdrawn, between 8am and 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26 and 27.

The decision means that unlike previous strikes, junior doctors will not cover intensive care and emergency services..

Due to this week’s strike the hospital cancelled 14 outpatient clinics, which affected around 168 patients, and 11 elective day-case surgeries, where patients are admitted and discharged on the same day. No other elective surgeries were cancelled.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is still pressing ahead with his policy to introduce new contracts for a seven-day-a-week health service in August.

Negotiations between the BMA and the government have failed to reach a solution.

Referring to the later strike, Peter Moffat, director of clinical operations at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re now actively planning for the scenario in which emergency care will also be potentially affected by the industrial action scheduled for the end of April.

“We’ll be working with our partners to ensure the safe provision of services to our patients.

“We anticipate that senior clinical staff will cover the usual duties of our junior doctors on hospital wards.”

He said some outpatient clinics and non-emergency surgery would have to be rescheduled and those patients affected would be notified.

Patients in less urgent need may experience longer waiting times than normal.

If patients have a minor injury or illness and they’re not sure where to go for treatment, they should call NHS 111 for advice or their GP.