The outpatients' department at Dublin's St James's Hospital was evacuated earlier today following the discovery of a suspicous device.
A spokesman for the hospital said a patient brought a suspect package into the outpatients' department at about 11.30am and informed hospital staff that it contained an explosive device. The patient then eft the scene.
The department was evacuated and gardaí and the Defence Forces bomb disposal unit were immediately notified.
The outpatients' area was the only patient area that was directly affected.
Patients affected were moved to the main concourse of the hospital, the spokesman said.
"The hospital wanted the affected outpatients to remain on site as from the early stages of the incident the hospital hoped that it would be able to re-schedule all necessary outpatient appointments into the afternoon to avoid undue disruption to patients. Only six outpatient appointments had to be rescheduled for another day."
Services begain returning to normal at the outpatients' department shortly before 2pm.