There have been cancellations of some "non-urgent elective in-patient and day case procedures" this week at Dublin's children's hospitals due to "extremely high numbers" attending their emergency departments and urgent care centres.
This is affecting care from November 8th to 12th at CHI Crumlin, Temple Street and Tallaght Hospitals although all out-patient appointments will proceed as scheduled.
CHI said affected patients will be contacted by the hospital directly.
Today, there are 12 children on trolleys at Crumlin's emergency department and four at Temple Street.
Ms Eilísh Hardiman, Chief Executive, Children’s Health Ireland, said they "fully appreciate cancelling any activity will impact our patients and families and cause distress".
She said: "All of our hospitals – CHI at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and the Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital– continue to experience extreme pressures on services and staff.
"We fully appreciate cancelling any activity will impact our patients and families and cause distress, especially for those who have waited a long time for appointments – for that we are sorry.
"We need to ensure we can continue to deliver safe care. We are reviewing the situation daily and we hope to restore non-urgent services as soon as possible.
"We are working with the HSE on investment to improve access to care for patients on waiting lists.”
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