Nurses' work-to-rule to go on

Nurses in accident and emergency departments will shortly finish today's two hour work stoppage.

After that, they will continue and indefinite work-to-rule in further protest at what they say are dangerous conditions caused by over-crowding in A&E units.

The nurses will refuse to take blood tests and answer phones.

The strike, organised by the Irish Nurses Organisation and SIPTU, went ahead today despite an 11th-hour effort to avert the action on Monday night.

The Health Service Employers Agency had submitted fresh proposals on reform in A&E departments - but the so-called Nursing Alliance felt they didn’t go far enough and decided to press ahead with the industrial action.

Health Minister Micheal Martin has said he believes the strike serves no practical purpose.