A fresh round of industrial action by doctors will impact patients at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The latest walkout began at 7am on Monday, October 2, and will continue for 72 hours. The strike is part of an ongoing dispute between doctors and the government over pay and conditions.

The NHS Somerset Foundation Trust, which manages Musgrove hospital in Taunton, said "patients will be impacted" and warned of longer waiting times and "last-minute changes to appointments."

In a statement a spokesperson for the hospital trust said: "British Medical Association (BMA), Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), and British Dental Association (BDA) have announced Consultants, Junior Doctors, and dental trainees will take further strike action from 7 am on Monday 2 October until 7 am on Thursday 5 October.

"Teams across the trust are working together to ensure that we can continue to provide urgent and emergency care for all patients, and to keep as many of our services running as possible.

"We know that some of our patients will be impacted by the strike action, and this could include longer waiting times in the Emergency Department for non-urgent cases, deferred treatment and in some areas, we may need to consolidate services (so where there are two services in an area, only one may be open).

"You may also see a difference in the colleagues who are working on our wards, as teams work together from across a broad range of service areas to provide essential services.

"During this period of industrial action, there may also be some last-minute changes to planned procedures or appointments. Please be patient and kind to all our colleagues during this time."

For further information and advice, visit the NHS Somerset Foundation Trust website.