Patients’ group welcomes talks on hospital dispute

The Irish Patients’ Association has called on both sides in the junior doctors’ dispute to work to resolve their differences at the Labour Relations Commission today.

The LRC has invited the South Eastern Health Board and the Irish Medical Organisation to talks on the issue of the new rosters which led to the dispute.

The commission hopes to find a resolution to the row before the strike spreads to hospitals outside Waterford and Tullamore.

IPA spokesman Stephen McMahon said: "If there was a national strike, effectively our health service would grind to a standstill. We’re urging all the parties towards a resolution."