Varadkar tells INMO 'strike is not the answer' and releases 300 beds for A&E

300 hospital beds are to be made available to help alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said they will be coming on stream in the coming weeks.

Nurses in Emergency Departments are to meet on Monday to discuss the issue.

Liam Doran of the INMO has said they may decide at that meeting to ballot for industrial action.

However, the Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said a strike is not the answer.

“The Director General is going to be visiting nine hospitals in the next couple of days,” Minister Varadkar said.

“So we don’t need anyone to highlight to us the challenge that we face, we know that. What we do need is everyone working together.”