Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Emily Shepherd said the LGH’s emergency department had “experienced one of its most difficult shifts” on Thursday night.

Nurses and midwives have begun a ban on overtime and double shifts for two days a week.

“We had nurses doing overtime and double shifts in ED, despite the bans, to keep their patients and colleagues safe,” Ms Shepherd said.

“Unfortunately, the buck stops with the nursing staff and there is no other option and nurses will never compromise patient and staff safety.”

Ms Shepherd said the ED department, waiting areas and fast track area were all full and the day procedure unit also was opened to cope with the demand.

“While staff navigated their way through the night safely and as best they could, they were all incredibly concerned about how they would manage if a multiple trauma or motor vehicle accident came through the doors,” she said.

The ANMF and other public sector unions will meet with the government on Thursday next week for the latest round of negotiations over the long-running pay dispute.

Premier Will Hodgman and Treasurer Peter Gutwein wrote to unions inviting them to the meeting “with a view to achieving a public sector wages agreements that are reasonable, fair and affordable as soon as possible”.

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Tom Lynch said he would attend the meeting but questioned the government’s commitment to resolve the dispute.

“We will do everything we can to resolve this but we don’t want another take it or leave it offer,” Mr Lynch said.

Labor MP Josh Willie said the government’s failure to settle negotiations was having a detrimental effect on recruiting and retaining staff, including child protection officers.

“A lack of resolution would be having an impact on recruiting child safety officers and a whole range of other frontline service workers,” he said.