Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, is considering sending critically ill patients overseas as they are no longer getting "an appropriate degree of care", the hospital's medical board said last night.
Contact has been made by a senior consultant with the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
A spokesman for the Scottish hospital said exploratory talks had taken place "to pave the way for a transfer of patients if deemed clinically necessary".
In its statement, the hospital board expressed concern that the strike had compromised the care of seriously ill children, particularly those in intensive-care and cancer units. The board was exploring all options to improve conditions "including their possible transfer to hospitals outside the country".
"All involved in this dispute, including the Department of Health and the Nursing Alliance, should be aware that services for critically ill children in this hospital have been restricted to a point that such services are not providing an appropriate degree of care for these children," the statement said. "It is difficult to believe that we have reached a stage where seriously ill children are allowed to suffer as a result of a dispute between management and nurses."
Tension has been growing between medical staff and nurses at the hospital since the strike began. Claims earlier this week by an accident and emergency consultant, Dr Roisin Healy, that emergency cover was inadequate were vehemently denied by the local strike committee.
The medical board praised the hospital's junior doctors who are working for two to three days in succession, with only short breaks, and acknowledged nurses were distressed to feel the need to be involved in the dispute. "A very limited service to try to support these children has been possible only because of the extraordinary endeavours of the entire staff of the hospital," the board said.
It added: "Precedent exists for nursing services being maintained in other institutions" such as private hospitals. "In contrast, no such agreement has been reached in relation to protecting the very ill children in this hospital from the suffering associated with the dispute.
"We are deeply concerned for the welfare of our patients and appeal to all involved to remove children, particularly those in critical care units, from the effects of this strike."
Lorna Siggins adds: Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, has appealed for help from patients' relatives. "We would welcome anyone who would be willing to provide meals," Mr Denis Minton, chief executive of the hospital, said.
