HOSPITAL patient campaigners have urged the government and doctors' leaders to do a deal so lives are not put at risk by the first-ever full walkout in the history of the NHS by junior doctors.

Thousands of medics across the country are preparing to launch a 48-hour strike where they will withdraw emergency care.

Health chiefs are preparing to reschedule non-urgent operations and appointments in Southampton and Winchester as hundreds of medics take to the picket lines for the fifth round of strike action this year in protest of controversial changes to their pay and working conditions being imposed by Jeremy Hunt.

Junior doctors will fully withdraw labour from 8am to 5pm tomorrow and Wednesday.

Previously they had provided emergency cover.

Last night Southampton Healthwatch chairman Harry Dymond said: “We hope this can be resolved as quickly as possible.

“They must avoid a full walk-out at all costs as it could be potentially very dangerous and increases the risks of deaths.”

He said the majority of the public sympathised with the doctors, pointing out very few patients had approached his group with complained, but said: “I'm not sure how much longer they can go on striking and not have the public react against them.

“Each time there’s a strike more and more people’s appointments have been delayed. I’m very confident the hospital has done all it can to put measures in place. But I am sure everyone is hoping that it can be called off.”

At the weekend a cross-party group of MPs urged Jeremy Hunt to agree to trial the new junior doctors’ contract in a bid to prevent the strike.

Labour’s Heidi Alexander, Conservative Dr Dan Poulter, Lib-Dem Norman Lamb and the SNP’s Dr Philippa Whitford said in a letter that they want an independent evaluation of the so-called 'weekend effect' which sees higher mortality rates for patients admitted at weekends.

Southampton junior doctor Dr Anastasia Theodosiou said action was a “last resort” and accused the government’s plans of creating “dangerous and fatiguing” shifts for doctors.

She said: “We acknowledge this [strike] may cause inconvenience and frustration, and apologise sincerely for this. However, they believe that the contract will cause significant harm to patient care and safety, and so feel duty-bound to go on strike.

“We view strike action as a last resort, and would call off the strike at once if the government re-entered negotiations to reach a safe and fair solution.”

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust chief operating officer Dr Caroline Marshall said: “All emergency and urgent services in the trust will be fully staffed at all times during the strike with further consultant cover available if required.

“Any patients who will be affected if the planned strike action goes ahead will be contacted via telephone beforehand and told that their appointment/operation has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. If strike action does not go ahead, they should attend their appointment as planned.”

Picket lines will be set up outside Southampton General Hospital from 8.30am on both days followed by a regional rally in Guildhall Square from 11.30am tomorrow. There will also be picket lines outside Royal Hampshire hospital in Winchester.