Nurses working in Accident and Emergency wards will go ahead with a planned two-hour work stoppage tomorrow from 12-2 p.m.
The nurses are protesting over what they describe as "unsustainable stress levels", overcrowding and poor working conditions. The ongoing work to rule by nurses will also remain in place but a three-hour stoppage planned for next week has been deferred.
Speaking at a press briefing this evening, INO General Secretary, Mr Liam Doran, said an emergency response team would be on hand in hospitals to deal with life threatening situations.
Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin TD, expressed his "extreme disappointment" over the planned action.
Up to 800 nurses in 30 hospitals across the State are involved in the dispute. They say overcrowding of A&E wards adversely affects patient welfare and creates unsustainable levels of stress among staff. They say new administrative structures and more consultants are required to ease the crisis.
However, proposals submitted to the Department of Health by the Nursing Alliance have received a cool reception from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association. They say certain powers that nurses are seeking may compromise a consultants professional position.
Last night, the HSEA proposed establish a working group to review the role and grade of bed managers in hospitals, promised 27 additional A&E consultants and new A&E units in a number of hospitals.
Doctors in Accident and Emergency wards today received guidelines from the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) telling them that emergency service procedures will not change as a result of the stoppage. Nurses have agreed to assist in any life-threatening situations.
"It is the policy of the IMO that a member should not take any action which would prejudice a formal and legal industrial dispute. Members should continue to work normally and should not undertake any additional duties arising from the proposed dispute."
The industrial action will not affect any other hospital services.