NURSING strikes are set to have “minimal impact” on hospitals across south Essex, bosses say.

Nurses are stepping up their strikes, due to the increasingly bitter dispute over pay and staffing.

The Royal College of Nursing has announced walk-outs across England, which start today and will end at midnight tomorrow, Monday, May 1.

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But Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Southend and Basildon hospitals, said no nurses at its hospitals would be on strike.

A spokesman said: “None of our nurses will partake in Mondays’ strikes and we urge our patients to attend all of their set appointments. Due to our nurses not participating in RCN strikes, we will have minimal impact and our hospitals and we will work as usual.”

The Royal College of Nursing has warned residents across Essex to stay safe during the strikes actions.

A spokesman from the Royal College of Nursing said: “We have announced that our hospitals will be affected by nursing strikes from 8pm on Sunday, April 30, until midnight on bank holiday Monday.

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“Our key focus is on providing safe care for patients who need urgent and emergency services, and those receiving inpatient care in our hospitals. We will be reducing the number of appointments we have planned on the strike days to make sure we have safe levels of staff across all services. “