The Mater Hospital in Dublin has asked the Garda to investigate an alleged "sex for sale" incident involving a nurse's aide working on contract at the hospital.
The worker, who was employed by a nursing agency which provided services to the hospital, was reportedly found performing a lewd act on an elderly patient in a public ward two weeks ago.
Detectives at Mountjoy Square are seeking to establish whether the woman had solicited the patient and also whether it was a once-off incident. It is understood the patient involved does not want to press charges.
A hospital spokeswoman confirmed gardai were investigating "an incident" and that the worker at the centre of the investigation was no longer employed at the hospital. She declined to comment on whether the hospital had ceased to take workers from the agency to which she was attached.