The Labour Relations Commission has convened an emergency meeting in an effort to avoid a nurses' strike due to overcrowding in accident and emergency departments in the eastern region.

The Irish Nurses' Organisation had requested LRC intervention after threatening industrial action unless the Government took action to resolve the A&E crisis.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority had to ask the public to stay away from A&E units yesterday as there were no beds available.

Some patients were even treated in the back of ambulances because of the lack of space.

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