Support staff have postponed their planned strike action at hospitals and healthcare facilities around the country tomorrow.

SIPTU said the action has been deferred to allow for emergency talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The union's Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “The strike action scheduled for tomorrow is now deferred at the request of the Workplace Relations Commission.

The WRC talks will focus on the "implementation of the job evaluation scheme" and will get underway tomorrow.

Discussions on the implementation of the job evaluation scheme for SIPTU members in the health service will commence tomorrow (Thursday, 20th June). Preparations for strike for next Tuesday (June 25th) and Wednesday (June 26th) will continue.” #payjustice #ourSIPTU pic.twitter.com/O7Zhulc1T3

— SIPTU (@SIPTU) June 19, 2019

Mr Bell said preparations are continuing for strike action next Tuesday and Wednesday.

It comes after the HSE warned that the strikes would have a "significant impact" on services, with thousands of patients facing the prospect of having their surgeries cancelled.

Around 10,000 workers at 38 hospitals and healthcare facilities were planning to down tools in the ongoing row over pay.

SIPTU has accused the Government of failing to honour the outcome of an independent job evaluation procedure that its members took part in under the Public Service Pay Agreement.

It said the evaluation found that workers are underpaid and should be shifted to a higher pay band - however the Government has yet to offer them improved terms.

The staff involved in the dispute include health care assistants, lab aids, hospital theatre workers, porters, cleaners and industry chefs.