The Health Minister Leo Varadkar says he does not think industrial action by nurses will do anything to get patients off trolleys in emergency departments.

Nurses are due to be balloted on industrial action over the issue, with an all-out strike in the run up to Christmas a possibility.

A 91-year-old man was left on a trolley for 29 hours at Tallaght Hospital last week, and a 93-year-old woman had the same wait on a trolley at Beaumont Hospital.

The issue of overcrowding in emergency departments will be top of the agenda at a meeting between hospital consultants and Mr Varadkar this afternoon.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) say if members vote in favour of industrial action, the ballot could result in an all out strike in the lead up to Christmas.

General-Secretary Liam Doran says the situation has gone too far.

Minister Varadkar says he understands the difficulties hospital staff are facing.