THE IMO – WHICH represents doctors – is to attend talks at the LRC tomorrow aimed at averting a strike by junior doctors.

Out of approximately 1,000 Non-Consultant Hospital (junior) Doctors, 97 per cent voted earlier this month to undertake industrial action over what they describe as “dangerously long” working hours.

The 24-hour strike is scheduled to go ahead on Monday 25 September, and contingency measures to protect patients have already been proposed to the HSE by the IMO.

The Labour Relations Commission has invited both sides to talks, and Industrial Relations Director with the IMO Steve Tweed confirmed to TheJournal.ie this afternoon that the meeting would go ahead tomorrow.

He added that it was “unusual” that this was the first engagement that they had had with the HSE on the issue.

“This meeting at the LRC is the first we’ll have had. We have received no proposals from the HSE to resolve the dispute to date at all,” Tweed said.

“It’s unusual for any employer when any difficulties arise that it goes straight to the LRC.”

The talks are expected to get under way late in the afternoon tomorrow.