Non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs), formerly known as junior doctors, are expected to be balloted for industrial action in the new year.
Their union, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), said it expects to call the ballot in response to the recruitment freeze announced by the Health Service Executive on 13 October.
The IMO said the hiring embargo breaches the terms of an agreement to reduce working hours for NCHDs signed by the HSE just 12 months ago.
In 2022, 97% of NCHDs voted in favour of taking industrial action up to and including strike action as part of a campaign to address dangerous working hours and other issues.
That led to an agreement with the HSE which promised to address the problem but the IMO said the deal is now being undermined by the recruitment freeze.
The union said that a ballot for industrial action will be called in January if the recruitment freeze is not suspended.
Chair of the IMO NCHD Committee Dr Rachel McNamara warned that the improvements in working conditions for NCHDs reached in the 2022 agreement would not be possible if the recruitment freeze continues.
"The 2022 agreement was all about reducing pressure on NCHDs and making their working lives safer for them and for their patients," Dr McNamara said.
"That will not be possible in the context of a recruitment freeze which will prevent the HSE employing the extra NCHDs needed to tackle the huge workload facing these doctors.
"There will be a real threat to patient welfare and to the welfare of individual NCHDs as they will be forced to work longer shifts, with reduced rest periods, leading to much physical and psychological hardship," she added.
The HSE said it is concerned to learn about the proposed ballot for industrial action and added that it will arrange to meet with the union to discuss the matters of concern.
"The potential disruption arising from industrial action involving NCHDs at any time during the year is a cause of concern and every effort will be made to resolve matters of disagreement," a spokesperson said.
"Doctors in formal approved training programmes are exempted from the recruitment pause," the HSE said.
"In respect of staffing in 2023, the HSE received approval for an additional 499 new jobs for consultants and NCHDs. The HSE has now filled these new jobs and exceeded the approved number."
The Department of Health said it is concerned to hear that the IMO is expecting to ballot it's members in the New Year and said it is urging all parties to engage through the appropriate forums and to uphold industrial peace in the interests of patients and the health service.
