Nurses working in the country's Emergency Departments (EDs) are to be balloted for industrial action next month if ‘critical' issues are not addressed, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has confirmed.

According to the INMO, staff working in these departments are ‘beyond breaking point'.

The latest figures available from the INMO's Trolley and Ward Watch service show that over 7,600 patients were left waiting on trolleys in EDs last month, a 17% increase when compared with September 2014.

The figures also reveal that between January and September of this year, a total of 71,486 patients were left on trolleys, an increase of 28% when compared with the same period last year.

The INMO has identified four ‘critical areas' which need immediate attention:
-The immediate introduction of specific recruitment and retention initiatives to deal with unsafe staffing levels
-The need for greater support from hospital management for ED staff
-The need for increased senior clinical presence throughout an extended day, seven days a week
-Increased access to diagnostics, when required by nursing staff, seven days a week.

"ED nurses are beyond breaking point and they fear constantly for their patients and their own health and wellbeing. The INMO, in making this decision, is acutely aware that industrial action in any area of the health service should only be a last resort. However after 12 years of waiting for improvements, the time for action is now," commented INMO general secretary, Liam Doran.

He added that the ballot for industrial action will not take place until November ‘to allow management show they are serious in understanding the current crisis'.

The decision to ballot was made following a special meeting earlier this week, which saw INMO ED nursing representatives from all over the country meeting with Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, to discuss the crisis.