Ambulance personnel have announced three further strike days, as part of their union recognition dispute with the HSE.

The daytime strikes, by 500 members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association union, will take place on the 15th February, and then two consecutive strike days on 28th February and 1st March.

The striking workers are calling on the HSE to allow them to be represented by the union of their choice.

They held their first strike last month.

Health officials, meanwhile, say they already recognises SIPTU, UNITE and FORSA - and believes engaging with any further organisations would harm good industrial relations in the National Ambulance Service.

PNA General Secretary Peter Hughes says the newly-announced strikes represent a 'considerable escalation' of the dispute.

He argued: "Against the background of the myriad of serious problems in our health services, it is beyond belief that the HSE, supported by the complete indifference shown by the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, in continuing to confront over 500 PNA ambulance personnel members on this issue of fundamental worker rights. 

"Despite the effort of the HSE, PNA ambulance branch has shown that it enjoys widespread and growing support from the public, and ambulance personnel throughout the country on the issue at the core of this dispute."

The union called on Minister Harris to "instruct the HSE to engage with the industrial relations machinery to end this dispute".

The announcement comes on the eve of a third 24-hour strike by nurses and midwives with the INMO.

The HSE this evening said it's in talks with the INMO to allow for major surgeries tomorrow - but non urgent appointments and services have been cancelled.