A four-day walkout by junior doctors has begun, with fears that the strike will put patients at risk.
The York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has issued a statement saying that emergency care will continue during the industrial action.
But the strike, which runs until 6.59am on Saturday (15 April) will cause major disruption to the NHS with operations and other procedures cancelled.
Across England, an estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).
Managers have said patient care is “on a knife edge” because of the strike, while NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the number of appointments cancelled, previously suggested to be 250,000, was likely to rise by another 100,000.
The strikes centre around a pay row between the BMA and government, with the union claiming junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation.
The union has asked for a full pay restoration that the government said would amount to a 35% pay rise – which ministers have said is unaffordable.
The York NHS Trust said: “During strike action, urgent and emergency treatment will be our priority.
“We are working closely with union representatives to ensure plans are in place to maintain safe care for patients, while facilitating and respecting the right of those staff who wish to take legal industrial action.
“Please be assured that you can continue to access care from our emergency departments and maternity services, and critical services for our inpatients.
“We will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action, either by text or phone. If we have not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.”
Only dial 999 “if it is a medical or mental health emergency (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk),” the trust says.
It added: “We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority. We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days.
“Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.”
BMA junior doctor committee co-chairman Dr Vivek Trivedi said: “We have always maintained we are willing to negotiate on how to achieve pay restoration, so for Mr Barclay to suggest we had any preconditions is yet again disingenuous.
“The reality is that the Health Secretary has had every opportunity to bring an end to the dispute. His decision to refuse to table a credible offer – indeed he has not tabled a single offer so far – means that this action is solely due to this government’s repeated inaction.”