Industrial unrest within the public sector is now threatening the hospitals even further.

Junior hospital doctors say action is likely because of poor working conditions and major issues with their contracts.

The union representing doctors, the IMO will begin a talks process this week in a bid to end a four year long battle with the Department of Health.

Spokesperson for the IMO Dr John Ruddy is not holding out much hope for Tuesday’s meeting: “It’s difficult to say how serious the employer side is on genuinely engaging on this issue.

“Given that we had to go to court to get them to talk to us, I would be a little bit pessimistic, but we want to talk and we want to get this issue resolved, but we are absolutely reserving the right to take industrial action if the talks are not concluded to our satisfaction.”

The call from doctors comes as several public sector unions say last week’s deal with Gardaí is a game changer.

The Government insists the Lansdowne road agreement on pay is the only offer available – however a number of representative groups are calling for emergency meetings with their respective departments.

Liam Doran is General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation: “That has to mean additional investment in nursing pay, reduce the hours, increase the staffing levels, offfer post graduate opportunities, if we do not do that, then in the world wide market for doctors and nurses we will continue to lose, for as long as we are losing, patients will continue to lose.”