Fife’s health chiefs have been urged to come clean on the effect Wednesday’s strike action will have on hospital services.
While NHS Tayside has said it has cancelled more than 800 appointments amid concerns over safe levels of staffing, by Monday its counterparts in Fife were still unable to say how many people would be affected.
One health campaigner claimed the situation was unacceptable and called on NHS Fife to tell the public what is going on.
Andrew Rodger, who is also an independent councillor, said it was imperative that people are kept informed.
”They should be telling the public how many cancellations they are having to make,” he said. ”Are operations still going ahead? Is there day surgery? Are they just going to wait till Wednesday to see who appears?”
Widespread disruption has been predicted across the UK due to the strike by public service workers.
All schools in Fife will be closed to pupils as teachers join the walkout and other council services will also be hit.
However, emergency service workers, including doctors and nurses, are exempt from the action and the public has been assured there will be no risk to life as a result of the strike.
Although essential services will be covered, the absence of hospital staff such as cleaners, porters and radiographers could make the provision of non-emergency services very difficult.
Mr Rodger added: ”Surely NHS Fife must have had negotiations with nursing staff and surely they’ve had meetings with the unions to ask what kind of staff will be on the wards?
”They must know what’s happening and what the implications are. They should issue some kind of statement to make it quite clear.”
NHS Fife has said patients whose appointments need to be cancelled as a result of the strike will be contacted and given an alternative date.
A spokeswoman reiterated a statement released on Friday which said NHS Fife would continue to work closely with staff to ensure appropriate and safe levels of care are provided.
John Moist of the GMB union, which has members in both Fife Council and NHS Fife, said discussions had been held with health bosses locally.
”There should be absolutely no risk to any life and limb,” he said.