Talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) aimed at resolving a dispute over rosters at Waterford Regional Hospital have adjourned without agreement.
LRC Chief Executive Mr Kieran Mulvey said he was unable to find a basis between the parties for resolving the dispute describing the positions of both sides as "diametrically opposed".
A work-to-rule will resume in Waterford tomorrow, and a three-day dispute at Tullamore General is also due to begin. The dispute by 130 non-consultant hospital doctors disrupted patient services at the two hospitals last week.
Today's talks were attended by representatives from the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the South Eastern Health Board.
The SEHB said in a statement it was "deeply concerned and disappointed" at the resumption of industrial action tomorrow. It called on the IMO to reconsider to "prevent further suffering and distress to patients and their families".
Non-emergency services at Waterford will be postponed for a third day, affecting 160 outpatient visits and 21 non-emergency theatre procedures.
The SEHB said emergency cover and all cancer services will proceed as normal. Scheduled dialysis and maternity outpatient clinics will also be unaffected. The accident and emergency, intensive care and coronary care units will operate as normal.
Labour Party health spokeswoman Ms Liz McManus said the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, must now intervene. "I am calling on him to stop obfuscating and take decisive action to end this dispute," she said. "He must act now or the consequences for the health service will be extremely grave".
The IMO says the new rosters will mean less training for the doctors who work alongside consultants.
But the Health Service Employers Agency (HSEA) claims the doctors' action is an attempt to protect their considerable overtime earnings. The HSEA insisted it was obliged under EU law to reduce the doctors' working hours. Some doctors work nearly 80 hours per week.
