Richmond Council has reminded residents to avoid calling 999 for an ambulance today – Wednesday – unless it is a real emergency or a threat to life.

The warning comes on the back of an ambulance strike across London and much of the rest of the country.

UNISON members of the London Ambulance Service team are set to take part in the industrial action for 12 hours from 11am to 11pm on Wednesday.

This will include staff who work on ambulances and other response vehicles, as well as staff in Emergency Operation Centres, where 999 calls are answered and ambulances are dispatched.

The London Ambulance said: "As always, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency, which is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

"On the day of industrial action, there will be fewer ambulances on the roads and fewer staff in our control rooms triaging 999 calls. As a result, patients may find it takes longer to get through to these services.

"Those whose conditions are not life-threatening are unlikely to get an ambulance."

Residents are being advised to seek information through NHS 111 online, while there are warnings that people may need to arrange alternative transport if they need to get to hospital.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) said it is currently 'extraordinarily busy', with record numbers of urgent and emergency calls coming in and high numbers of patients waiting for an ambulance.

It warned that the effect of the strike action is likely to effect services through Wednesday night into Thursday.

It said: "In a serious medical emergency, call 999. This includes unconsciousness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe loss of blood and choking.

"If it's urgent, but it's not a serious medical emergency, please consider other options. You can get support for urgent medical worries by going to NHS 111 online. This should also be your first port of call if you're unsure what to do."

LAS said people should also look to pharmacies and GPs for help. NHS walk-in centres can treat sprains, suspected broken limbs, cuts and grazes and minor scalds and burns.

Further strikes in parts of the NHS are planned for January 18, 19 and 23.