Doctor's strike a possibility as hospital staff due for ballot

Junior doctors could embark on all out strike action if the Government does not reduce their working hours.

Yesterday, the Irish Medical Organisation announced a ballot of their 2,000 members next month on possible industrial action.

The ballot is part of their new campaign - 24 No More - which aims to reduce the length of time they spend on wards.

Dr John Donnellan, Chair of the IMO's Non-consultant hospital doctor committee, said he is confident the appetite is there amongst members for industrial action.

"We're going to conduct a ballot of members of NCHDs [non-consultant hospital doctors] on the 8th of August, " he sad.

"And following that, if we get the go-ahead from our members, it'll be a number of short-term, short-timeframe stoppages, with quick escalation up to industrial action - such as an all-out strike, if needs be."