Today, family GPs and hospital doctors in Norwich will be among those taking the difficult decision to only treat emergency or urgent cases in a protest over planned changes to their pensions.

It is the first time since 1975 that doctors have opted to work to rule, and the British Medical Association (BMA) is calling on members to take part, but is insisting that patient safety will still come first. Out of the 23 practices which are a part of the Norwich Clinical Commissioning Group, at six practices, doctors will only be providing emergency or urgent care, but at another 14 services are unaffected and patients will be able to make routine appointments.

Duncan Forde, practice general manager at St Stephens Gate Medical Practice, said the Wessex Street surgery had just one GP taking part in the BMA's industrial action and so was still able to maintain a normal service for patients. He said: 'It doesn't really impact on our ability to offer a full service.'

The remaining three of 23 practices refused to disclose details.

The Castle Partnership runs the Mile End Road, Tuckswood and Gurney surgeries, but refused to disclose details of which of its services, if any, would be affected.

At Trinity and Bowthorpe Medical Practice, which runs Trinity Street Surgery and Bowthorpe Health Centre, doctors will be working to rule, but the practice refused to explain how that would affect services for patients.

Old Palace Medical Practice also refused to disclose any information.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital sees more than 1,400 out-patients and provides surgery for nearly 150 people every day.

Due to the industrial action, the hospital has rescheduled 69 out-patient appointments and 15 surgical operations. Services at the trust's Cromer Hospital are unaffected.

The N&N's medical director professor Krishna Sethia said: 'We would like to reassure patients that nearly all hospital services will be running as normal on the day of action, including emergency and maternity services.

'A small number of outpatient appointments and surgical operations have been rescheduled and we are very sorry that some patients have had their care disrupted.

'We are asking patients to turn up for appointments on Thursday unless they hear from us.'

Dr Rob Harwood, a consultant in anaesthetics at the N&N and chairman of the Eastern region consultants' committee of the BMA, said: 'I can't tell people how difficult a decision this has been for doctors to take, but patients must not suffer because of this and if there is any doubt whatsoever the presumption will be always to provide care first and then discuss it later.'

WHAT SERVICES WILL BE ON OFFER AT YOUR GP PRACTICE?

Bacon Road Medical Centre: doctors will be providing urgent and emergency care only

The Castle Partnership: Refused to disclose which services would be affected at its Mile End Road, Tuckswood and Gurney surgeries.

Dr Paul Harris: open as normal for routine appointments

East Norwich Medical Partnership: both Thorpe and Sprowston surgeries operating as normal

Hellesdon Medical Practice: open as normal for routine appointments

Lakenham Surgery: open as normal for routine appointments

Lawson Road Surgery: doctors will be seeing urgent/emergency cases only, all previously booked routine appointments will be honoured, nurses and health care assistants will be working as normal

Magdalen Medical Practice: open as normal for routine appointments

Newmarket Road Surgery: open as normal for routine appointments

Oak Street Medical Practice: doctors will be at the surgery, but providing urgent and emergency care only

Old Catton Medical Practice: doctors will be seeing urgent/emergency cases only, all previously booked routine appointments will be honoured, nurses and health care assistants will be working as normal

Old Palace Medical Practice: Unable to provide any information about which, if any, services would be affected

Prospect Medical Practice: open as normal for routine appointments

St Stephens Gate Medical Practice: open as normal for routine appointments

Taverham Partnership: Both Taverham and Beechcroft will be operating as normal for routine appointments. Since June 7, Beechcroft Surgery has been closing on Thursday afternoons at 1pm but this is for an unrelated reason.

Thorpewood Medical Group: open as normal for routine appointments

Timber Hill Health Centre: open as normal for routine appointments

Trinity and Bowthorpe Medical Practice: Doctors will be working to rule at Trinity Street Surgery and Bowthorpe Health Centre but the practice refused to explain how that would affect services for patients.

University of East Anglia Medical Centre: open as normal for routine appointments

Wensum Valley Medical Practice: at its three surgeries in Adelaide Street, Bates Green and West Earlham Health Centre, doctors will be seeing necessary/emergency cases only, all previously booked routine appointments will be honoured, nurses practitioners will be working as normal

West Pottergate Health Centre: open as normal for routine appointments

Woodcock Road Surgery: open as normal for routine appointments

Yare Valley Medical Practice: doctors will be seeing urgent/emergency cases only, all previously booked routine appointments will be honoured, nurses and health care assistants will be working as normal