STAFF at University College Hospital, Galway, warned of further industrial action yesterday as negotiations continued between management and junior doctors, who have withdrawn from outpatient services.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which represents the doctors, said that, in the light of progress and as a gesture of goodwill, they would not take disruptive action at Merlin Park Regional Hospital in Galway, where similar measures had been threatened from next Tuesday.
Earlier, the Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn, called on the Minister for Health to intervene in the dispute. The limited industrial action, in which non consultant hospital doctors withdrew from most outpatient services last Tuesday, was likely to be escalated, as other groups of staff were also concerned about conditions in the casualty department, and at the level of medical cover, she said.
According to a confidential report seen by Mrs Geoghegan Quinn, the hospital's accident and emergency department was so crowded during February that on one occasion 11 people aged over 70 had to be accommodated overnight on trolleys.
"Staff are worried that, if patients suffered a cardiac arrest in such circumstances, professional help might not be available immediately because trolleys are placed so closely together", she added.
A Department of Health spokesman emphasised that an interim development, costing about £5 million, was due to go to tender shortly and construction would begin during the summer on new accident and emergency facilities as well as new and updated operating theatres. The Department was awaiting proposals for "further long term major development of the hospital".