Representatives from the INMO and the HSE are to meet tomorrow to try to deal with what the INMO have described as an overcrowding crisis at Cork's two biggest hospitals.
The meeting is due to take place at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
The INMO says that Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital are both operating "beyond their limits".
It comes as these and a number of other hospitals around the country have imposed visitor restrictions due to a spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha has said conditions at the hospitals were "appalling" and that its members were very concerned about next week, as overcrowding is expected to get worse when children return to school.
She said the union was willing and available to meet in Cork tomorrow, saying they wanted to work with the HSE to find real solutions to the problems.
She blamed the embargo on recruitment and the delay in recruiting extra staff for the problem.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said the winter season always results in an increase in demand in services because of problems like flu but that the HSE had failed to plan for this.
In a statement, CUH said it was currently extremely busy with a very high number of patients being admitted with flu and respiratory illnesses.
It said in order to deal with this it had cancelled elective surgery, stopped non-emergency admissions and is sourcing extra bed capacity from the public and private sectors.
CUH also said its working with colleagues in the community to provide homecare packages and other beds for patients who no longer require acute medical care.
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It also said it is engaged in the ongoing recruitment of nursing staff.
Visitor restrictions are in force at a number of hospitals as management attempt to curb the spread of the flu.
A visitor ban has been imposed at Mercy University Hospital in Cork until further notice because of a spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.
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More than 40 people have already been admitted to the Mercy University Hospital in Cork with flu in recent days.
Over 75% of people presenting to the hospital's emergency department with flu-like symptoms have tested positive for the condition.
The hospital is closed to visitors, apart from exceptional circumstances such as those visiting children, critically-ill patients or patients in the intensive care unit.
Cork University Hospital, the Mater hospital in Dublin and South Tipperary General Hospital have also imposed visitor restrictions to stop the spread of flu.
In a statement, the HSE says some of its facilities have imposed complete visitor restrictions due to the high level of infectious illnesses.
It is advising all visitors to healthcare facilities to check in advance with the facility they are visiting, and to observe good hand hygiene if visiting a healthcare facility.
Additional reporting: Conor Kane
