The HSE has invited the doctors union, the IMO, back to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) tomorrow for talks aimed at settling the junior doctor dispute, Health Minister James Reilly had told the Dail.

The Minister told Fianna Fail health spokesperson Billy Kelleher that fewer hospital patients than predicted had been affected by today's one-day strike by junior doctors. He said no more than 7,400 patients had been affected by the industrial action.

Dr Reilly said the action taken by the IMO did not help the situation.

He agreed that junior doctors had a right to reasonable working hours, but major progress had been made recently in tackling this long-standing problem.

The Minister said patients who had had procedures deferred today would be offered the earliest possible re-attendance dates.

He said he was very keen that the issue should be resolved and the HSE had invited the IMO to LRC talks tomorrow to discuss 'all manner of sanctions' that could be imposed on hospitals who breach a new limit of 24 hours on continuous doctor shifts.

This is a key sticking point in the IMO-HSE dispute.

Meanwhile, the IMO acknowledged the "exceptional level" of support received by its NCHD (junior doctor) members from the public for their day of action against 'dangerously long working hours'. 

The IMO, in a statement, said a realistic engagement by the HSE was needed on outstanding issues and this was needed soon.

The union has threatened to escalate the strike action from next week in the absence of any progress with the HSE.

Junior doc strike hits services