THOUSANDS of junior doctors took part in the first all-out strike in the history of the NHS after the Health Secretary said the Government would not be "blackmailed" into dropping its manifesto pledge for a seven-day health service.

Junior doctors from Somerset's hospitals including Weston General Hospital and Musgrove Park in Taunton took part.

Reacting to the strike announcement, Dr Nick Lyons, medical director at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, said: "Our priority, as always, is to maintain the safety and quality of care for our patients.

"We’re working hard to once again successfully minimise disruption and to make sure our patients are safely cared for.

"I’d like to reassure people that our hospital will remain safe and well managed during the industrial action.

"Our excellent team of senior consultant doctors and surgeons will be working across the 48 hour strike period, providing clinical care for patients in place of the juniors.

"We will also be running a small number of urgent and emergency outpatient clinics and an emergency theatre list for inpatients.

"If you already have an appointment booked for those days which is cancelled we will contact you. If you haven’t heard from us please keep your appointment as normal.

"We apologise for any postponements we have to make because we know the distress and inconvenience this can cause.

"A full walk out has never happened before in the history of the NHS, so undoubtedly there will be pressure on our services."