WA nurses are warning the public to avoid hospitals on Wednesday during industrial action.

Health staff say that a breakdown in negotiations with the government over pay and conditions had forced them to take industrial action on Wednesday, including a stop-work meeting to protest the government's refusal to implement nurse-to-patient ratios.

“We're advising the public if you can, avoid hospitals on the 12th of October for the couple of hours between midday and 2pm,” Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) WA secretary Janet Reah said.

“Give the nurses a chance to come and talk and discuss action and get what they deserve.”

The ANF says industrial action will escalate further if the government does not come to the table.

One of the main points of contention is the fact that WA hospitals currently use a Nurse Hours per Patient Day (NHPPD) system, which the union has said does not work.

“This government has missed another opportunity to have our mass meeting next week postponed by not meeting our requests,” Ms Reah said.

“The only reason I can see for this delay is that the government does not want to talk about ratios because it will expose the lack of staff, and it's black or white, if you have ratios you either have enough staff or you do not.

“Whereas at the moment they are fudging the figures with the NHPPD, they've been lying for two years about the scope of our nursing and midwifery shortages.”

Several states in Australia have already adopted nurse-to-patient ratios.