Pictured: Nurses strike outside Royal Sussex County Hospital

Nursing staff from the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, are among 55 NHS trusts in England taking part in industrial action today and tomorrow amid concerns over pay and patient safety.

There were pickets outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, St Richard Hospital, and Worthing Hospitals.

They picketed outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital (Image: Simon Dack)

Dozens of nurses were seen outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital, holding signs reading, "overtired, overworked and underpaid".

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has been calling for a pay rise at 5 per cent above inflation, though it has said it will accept a lower offer.

A placard read: 'You know urine trouble when nurses are walking out' (Image: Simon Dack)

The NHS is reminding patients to attend all their usual appointments unless they have been contacted, and to seek urgent care if needed during the strikes.

NHS England said patients should use services “wisely” by going to NHS 111 online but continuing to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

Pickets were held at the trust's four major hospitals (Image: Simon Dack)

Thousands of operations and appointments are expected to be cancelled during the two consecutive days of strike action.

Almost 30,000 needed to be rescheduled following December’s nurse strikes.

The RCN has agreed to staff chemotherapy, emergency cancer services, dialysis, critical care units, neonatal and paediatric intensive care.