Junior doctors in Bucks have a begun a walk out for 96 hours - as their union, the BMA, calls for a 35 per cent pay rise.
It claims three members would earn £66 between them for taking out someone's appendix.
Bosses at the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Intergrated Care Board says up to 50 per cent of services will be impacted between now and Saturday morning,
People are asked to call 111 and visit the NHS website for their needs, ensure that they are up-to-date on prescriptions, and check on their vulnerable friends and family next week.
Steve McManus, Chief Executive of the NHS In Bucks, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West, said: "We do not underestimate the impact this industrial action will have on our patients. Some non-emergency operations and other appointments will be rearranged. NHS staff working during the industrial action will be working very hard in hospitals, community teams, GP and primary care services and pharmacies to keep people safe and respond to their needs. The scale and length of this industrial action means that we cannot fully mitigate the impact for patients.
"Emergencies, critical care, maternity, trauma and neonatal care safe staffing will be our absolute priority, but it will involve the NHS working together across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West to ensure we are there for people at their moment of need. We are grateful to all our colleagues working during this time to keep services running and patients safe."
Dr Rachael de Caux, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS in Bucks, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West and Consultant in Emergency Medicine said: "If you have an emergency or life-threatening need, continue to come to Emergency Departments. We expect them to be incredibly busy in the days ahead and if your need is not an emergency you can expect to wait a very long time or be redirected to a more appropriate service. NHS 111 online remains the best place to help you get to the part of the NHS that can best respond to your needs."
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