The Royal College of Nursing has announced a significant escalation in strike action at more than 120 NHS employers in England, including one in Lancashire.

Members from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which covers Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, and the Royal Preston Hospital, will strike over their increasingly bitter dispute over pay and staffing.

The next strike will run continuously for 48 hours from 6am on March 1.

Some North West Ambulance workers are also set to take part in the industrial action.

The college, which accused the UK government of refusing to engage in negotiations, also said it will increase financial support for its members who lose wages by taking industrial action.

Previous action took place only during the day shift, for 12 hours each time.

For the first time, the RCN will involve nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.

A strike last week saw the RCN agree 5,000 exemptions at local level through committees of NHS hospitals and RCN staff, but this process will be stopped for the March dates.

The RCN said it was continuing discussions with the NHS at national level as part of its commitment to “life and limb” care.

It will reduce services to an “absolute minimum” and ask hospitals to rely on members of other unions and other clinical professions instead.

The nursing union announced that the initial strike benefit rate will be increased from £50 to £80 per day, with the rate increasing to £120 from the fourth day of action.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen, said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have today asked even more nursing staff to join this dispute.

“These strikes will not just run for longer and involve more people but will leave no area of the NHS unaffected. Patients and nurses alike did not want this to happen.

“By refusing to negotiate with nurses, the Prime Minister is pushing even more people into the strike. He must listen to NHS leaders and not let this go ahead.

“I will do whatever I can to ensure patient safety is protected.

“At first, we asked thousands to keep working during the strikes but it is clear that is only prolonging the dispute.

“This action must not be in vain – the Prime Minister owes them an answer.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Failure to provide cover during strike action for key services like cancer care is a significant escalation from the Royal College of Nursing that will risk patient safety.

“We are working closely with NHS England on contingency plans, but this action will inevitably cause further disruption for patients.

“I’ve had a series of discussions with unions, including the RCN, about what is fair and affordable for the coming year, as well as wider concerns around conditions and workload.”

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is also reminding the public of another round of industrial action, set to take place next week.

GMB members will strike for 24 hours on Monday, February 20.

This will mean fewer ambulances on the road and fewer call handlers answering 999 calls.

In addition, ambulance dispatchers and drivers in its patient transport service will also be going on strike.

A spokesperson for the NWAS said: “We need the public to only call 999 in life-threatening emergencies to ensure resources are available for the patients who really need us.

“To be clear, ambulances will still be available – but they will be prioritised for those life and limb emergencies.

“Other patients will likely be asked to make their own way to hospital or advised where else to seek help.”

Ged Blezard, director of operations at the NWAS said: “This is the ninth day we have faced some form of strike action in the service.

“So far, we have coped reasonably well.

“However, I understand there are only so many times that the public will listen to our messages.

“Therefore it’s important to stress that one of the reasons we are able to get to people who need us on strike days is that we receive fewer calls, so it’s vital that the public continue to behave as they are.

“Please only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. For non-urgent concerns, please seek help from NHS 111 online, or contact your GP and pharmacist.

“We are hoping for a resolution to the dispute, but ultimately, this is a matter for the government and trade unions to settle.”