There has been a breakthrough in talks aimed at averting a strike by nurses in seven Emergency Departments (EDs) nationwide this Thursday, it has been reported.

It is understood that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and the HSE have agreed to consider a range of proposals that came about following around 19 hours of negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Measures to alleviate overcrowding in EDs had already been agreed upon before Christmas, however in recent weeks, nurses had expressed ‘a complete lack of confidence' in the ability of hospital managers to deliver on these measures.

Following a national meeting of the INMO's ED representatives last week, the organisation said that it was proceeding with strike action on January 14 in seven hospitals - Beaumont and Tallaght Hospital in Dublin, Cavan General, Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, Mercy University Hospital in Cork, University Hospital Waterford and University Hospital Galway.

Speaking after that meeting, INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, said that it was ‘quite clear that health employers will have to make a monumental effort to begin convincing frontline nursing staff in EDs that the WRC proposals will be implemented and will make a real difference to patient care and safe nursing practice'.

According to RTÉ News, the revised proposals include a number of ‘confidence-building' provisions and clarifications, such as clarification on the procedures surrounding escalation policies, which are protocols that come into effect in times of crisis, e.g. severe overcrowding.

The INMO Executive Council is set to discuss these latest proposals this afternoon to decide whether they are sufficient to call off Thursday's strike action.