Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will go on strike from 08:00 on Thursday in the biggest action of its kind in the history of the NHS.
Staff will continue to provide “life-saving” and some urgent care but routine surgery and other planned treatments are likely to be disrupted.
The Royal College of Nursing said staff had been given no choice after ministers refused to reopen pay talks.
The UK government said the RCN’s demand for a 19 per cent pay rise was untenable.
The action will involve almost a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England, all health boards in Northern Ireland and all but one nurse in Wales. Nurses in Scotland are not on strike.
Under trade union rules, the RCN has to ensure life-saving care during a 12-hour strike.
Chemotherapy and kidney dialysis should be carried out routinely, along with intensive and critical care, pediatric accident and emergency and hospital neonatal units, which care for newborns.
In addition, it will be up to NHS boards and trusts to negotiate services at a local level, with negotiations likely to be based on some individual patient circumstances.
The biggest impact is likely to be on pre-booked treatments such as hernia repairs, hip replacements or outpatient clinics.
The NHS has said it is “vital” that people continue to come forward for emergency care during the strikes and that anyone who has not contacted to make an appointment attends as planned.
