The Health Service Employers' Agency has asked the nursing unions to call off Wednesday's strike while talks continue to tackle problems in A&E departments.
Over 750 nurses in 30 hospitals are expected to take part in the stoppage from noon until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and in a continuous work-to-rule that will follow, in protest at working conditions. Emergency cover will be provided only for life-threatening situations during the stoppage.
Today the HSEA is outlining to the unions initiatives it has on the way to reduce pressure on staff and patients in A&E departments. However, it is unlikely these will be enough in three areas identified by the unions as immediate priorities.
The areas are a compensation scheme similar to that of the Garda for staff assaulted at work, enhanced nurse management structures within A&E departments and the provision of extra A&E consultant cover.
The first issue would have to go to Government for approval because of the cost implications. It would be difficult to grant compensation to A&E nurses without extending it to all public service workers who operate in at-risk environments.
A grading review may be more manageable but extra cover by consultants would have to involve their representative organisations, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association. The IHCA has already written to the HSEA complaining that the largest nursing union, the Irish Nurses' Organisation, is making demands which would change their members' working conditions and undermine their clinical functions.
Last night the HSEA was still drafting proposals for the unions. Its chief executive, Mr Gerard Barry, said: "The issues raised by the nursing unions are being taken very seriously. We freely acknowledge A&E departments are under a lot of pressure.
"However, a lot has been done by way of initiatives such as the sanctioning of €65 million for 709 extra hospital beds, €40 million more for A&E departments, mainly for consultants and physical infrastructure, and €1.23 million in the Eastern Regional Health Authority alone for extra security arrangements.
"It is our belief that these initiatives, combined with efforts at national and local level by nursing unions and management, make any industrial action on Wednesday unwarranted and counter-productive."
The general secretary of the INO, Mr Liam Doran, said at the weekend that "no hospital has put in place so far the type of initiatives needed and negotiations at local level haven't in any way changed that". While the union would consider the HSEA proposals, he said it would "require very, very significant changes from the employers to alter our members' attitude".
SIPTU's national nursing official, Mr Oliver McDonagh, also signalled a hardening of attitudes among nurses towards existing practice.