Significant disruption is expected at local hospitals again today after strike action was called off at short notice.
That's according to Emergency Consultant at Sligo Hospital Fergal Hickey who says there will be some congestion at emergency departments as they deal with a backlog.
Over 2,000 medical scientists have returned to work as normal today after cancelling a third planned work stoppage at the last minute.
All sides are holding talks in the Labour Court today.
While the HSE are working to reschedule appointments the President of the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine says it will take some time for all services to return to normal.
''From the emergency department point of view, things will return to normal very quickly. Although we will still have some congestion as a result of yesterday's stoppage. From the point of view of those that have their procedures canceled, that were planned procedures, Unfortunately, they will have to be rescheduled that may take some considerable time because those slots over the next number of weeks are already occupied by patients. So there will be some delays as a direct result of this.''
Meanwhile, almost 120 people are on trolleys across the region today, with University Hospital Galway reporting 48 patients waiting for beds today.
Sligo University Hospital is reporting 40 patients on trolleys this afternoon.
Midlands Regional Hospitals in Mullingar and Tullamore have 18 and 7 people respectively on trolleys this afternoon.
While Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe has the lowest figures locally, with 6 people in the Hospital's Emergency Department waiting on a bed.
