The health service is facing the threat of chaos as hospital consultants, junior doctors along with public and community health doctors are being balloted for strike action in the row over delays in a new public payment agreement.

The doctors, who are members of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) union, are being balloted across the public health system on industrial action, up to and including strike action. 

A spokesman said the ballot is a response to Government inaction on a new public sector pay deal and failure to conclude local bargaining arrangements due under the last agreement.

“The current public service agreement expired in July 2026 and, to date, the Government has not engaged on a successor agreement,” he said.

“The IMO is recommending to members that they vote yes in the ballot on industrial action, which will close on Monday, September 21, next.

“These members include consultants, non-consultant hospital doctors, and public and community health doctors.”

They do not include GPs who are independent contractors and not directly employed by the HSE.

The spokesman said that “while industrial action and particularly strike action would be a last resort, the IMO has made it clear to members that unless there is immediate and serious engagement by Government and the HSE, it will not hesitate to use it to bring about “much-needed” agreement.  

“The IMO is asking its members for a Yes vote and, at the end of the ballot, the national specialty committees and council will meet to determine the nature of industrial action.”

The statement added that “regrettably, the only narrative heard from the Government about our health services is overspending in the health system and cost-cutting”.

“This reductive and unhelpful blame game does not reflect the day-to-day lived experience of doctors and other healthcare workers struggling to deliver care in an environment that is understaffed and facing increasing demand and pressures from a growing and ageing population.”

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions announced last week that public sector unions agreed to stage a one-day strike on October 14.

A number of other public sector unions have voted for industrial action including the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) , Forsa and SIPTU

The nurses’ union said public sector unions are making it clear that we are dissatisfied with the employers and government’s lack of engagement when it comes to matching wage increases to inflation.