The Minister for Health, Micheál Martin, is to meet union representatives this afternoon to discuss the escalating problems in the health service.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions organised the meeting at the request of the unions representing nurses and clerical and administrative staff who feel that the bed closures and cuts in funding are all contributing to a crisis in health care.
The meeting will be attended by ICTU General Secretary Mr David Begg, SIPTU president Mr Des Geraghty, and the general of the Irish Nurses Organisation, Mr Liam Doran. Representatives of the INO and IMPACT will also be there.
Growing concerns over a possible escalation in the public health doctor's strike, now entering its fifth week, and claims from the nursing union that cutbacks are increasing hardship for patients will also be discussed.
Elsewhere, protests over the closure of the Accident and Emergency Services in Wexford and plans to abolish "home births" in Galway have emerged as fresh contentious issues.
Concerns over accreditation of junior doctors in Wexford have cast doubt over the future of the A&E unit in the town's general hospital. Galway will later today see protests by women opposed to the ending of a "home births" service.
Eastern Regional Health board representatives will also meet Department of Health officials today to discuss the recent announcement of bed closures.
Last week's announcement by the five main teaching hospitals that they will close 250 beds and admit 14,000 fewer patients then it did last year has sparked fresh criticism over the Minister's handling of the health service.