The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has claimed the HSE is now 'resigned' to junior doctors taking industrial action next month in protest at the excessive hours they have to work.

Strike action is now looming, with both sides due to meet next week to consider contingency plans in the event of junior doctors limiting or withdrawing their services.

The doctors' union said it was 'gravely disappointed' with the outcome of its latest meeting with the HSE to discuss the dispute over NCHD working hours.

The IMO is currently balloting non-consultant hospital doctor (NCHD) members on industrial action on the issue.

Following the result of the ballot, which is expected to be known on September 3, the IMO's NCHD committee wil meet to decide what form the industrial action will take.

The IMO may decide on all-out strike action, which could involve junior doctors withdrawing from all hospital work barring emergency care.

"Even though we are facing a real likelihood of industrial action in the coming weeks, the HSE response at this meeting was to propose another 'working group' to explore the issue. This is a mere stalling tactic and is not facing up to the real problem of illegal working hours," Eric Young, IMO Assistant Industrial Relations Director said.

The IMO has stressed that the HSE is in breach of a EU directive which stipulates that junior doctors should work no more than an average of 48 hours per week. It claims the current working week average for junior doctors is around 60 hours, and many work over 70 and up to 100 hours.

The union says these working hours threaten the health and safety of both patients and NCHDs. 

Mr Young said the HSE team had acknowledged that it would have to engage all stakeholders in the system, particularly hospital CEOs, consultants and other groups if it was to achieve compliance with the directive, yet that process of engagement has not yet commenced.

Mr Young said that the HSE seemed 'resigned to industrial action".

Both sides have agreed to meet next Monday, August 26, to discuss contingency arrangements in the event of industrial action taking place.