Nursing unions and the HSE are to attend "informal" talks at the Labour Court in an effort to avert a strike on Wednesday.

The talks will be with the HSE, Department of Health, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the General Secretary of ICTU.

Strike preparations by the INMO are continuing, and thousands of outpatient appointments and elective surgeries have been cancelled.

Nurses are in dispute with the government and the HSE over pay and recruitment and retention issues.

General Secretary of the INMO, Phil Ní Sheaghdha says as things stand, the strike goes ahead.  The union met the HSE on contingency plans this morning. 

A spokesperson for the union said "we have consistently said that we are open to talks and that this strike can be averted. We will attend these talks in good faith.

"But the ball is firmly in the government's court. They need to make serious proposals if they are to avert industrial action.

"Strike preparations continue. We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the public, our colleagues in the health service, and from Irish nurses and midwives working overseas."