The head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) says the planned strike by junior doctors tomorrow is now "inevitable".

15,000 patients will be effected when non-consultant hospital doctors engage in industrial action in a row over working hours.

Surgeries and clinic appointments will be cancelled as a result and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned the 24-hour strike could escalate if their demands on the EU Working Time Directive are not met.

They want financial sanctions for anyone not implementing the Directive. Weekend cover for in-patients and emergency care will be provided for during the strike.

Eric Young, the assistant director of industrial relations at the IMO, said that the IMO was now resigned to having to take the industrial action because of the failure of the HSE to "step up to the plate" in respect of the issue of sanctions.

Director-General of the HSE Tony O'Brien has urged the IMO to return to talks at the Labour Relations Commission. He says the patients effected will be accommodated as soon as possible, but only if there is no further action.

But he also warned that the action will have a significant impact.