In a move that could lead to progress towards resolving the junior doctor hours dispute, the IMO and the HSE yesterday agreed to consider proposals made at the LRC for a roster verification process.

This process is aimed at addressing the issue of 24 hour-plus shifts worked by many junior doctors, which is a sticking point in the dispute. Junior doctors are threatening to begin industrial action from next Wednesday, starting with a national one-day strike.

The proposals made at the LRC are aimed at determining whether rosters in place at hospital level do not exceed a maximum 24-hour shift for doctors.

The IMO wants a maximum 24-hour shift system to be put in place and progress made towards introducing a 48-hour working week for juniors in line with EU law by the end of 2014.

The HSE and IMO have agreed to visit two pilot hospital sites tomorrow and to reconvene at the LRC on Friday.

Eric Young of the IMO said it would be critical that any proposals agreed be subject to a rigorous verification process.

The IMO has stressed that its plans for industrial action from next week are still in train.

Earlier, the INMO nurses union warned that its members will not do any work normally carried out by junior doctors if they take industrial action as threatened from next week.

The union has said it will support junior doctors in their action.

The INMO criticised the HSE for failing to implement the European Working Time Directive for junior doctors.

INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said it was unacceptable that hospital doctors had been forced into industrial action in order to achieve safe working hours.