A decision by theatre nurses at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, to begin a work-to-rule this morning over a dispute relating to on-call payments is likely to add to the pressure already being felt by Dublin's teaching hospitals as a result of the winter vomiting virus.
All planned admissions to the Mater hospital and Blanchardstown were postponed yesterday to free up beds to assist Beaumont hospital in dealing with an outbreak of gastroenteritis which has affected it for the last two weeks.
Latest figures show a significant increase in the number of cases of the vomiting virus - (small round structured virus (SRSV, also known as Norwalk-like virus) - which has risen to 101.
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases remained at 24, according to a spokesman for Beaumont.
More than a hundred of the hospital's 630 beds remain closed as do 16 of its 19 wards. It has been unable to accept elective admissions since last week due to the large number of patients affected by the virus. In addition more than 50 staff have contracted the virus within the last 10 days.
However the hospital began to accept a limited number of emergency ambulance cases from its catchment area yesterday; over the weekend all ambulances had been diverted to the Mater. "We are talking two to three weeks before we have the infection cleared from the hospital," a spokesman for Beaumont said.
At the Mater yesterday, there were no elective admissions. A five-day ward had to be kept open over the weekend to deal with extra pressure from its accident and emergency department.
According to a spokeswoman for the hospital, it hopes to take in a limited number of elective cases today "with a view to being back to normal by the end of the week".
The Eastern Regional Health Authority has appealed to the public to avoid attending the accident department where possible to allow staff to deal with more urgent cases.
Symptoms of the virus include vomiting, diarrhoea, headache and a low-grade fever. The virus spreads easily from person to person and it is advisable to stay at home until 48 hours after the symptoms have ceased.
Meanwhile, the South Eastern Health Board has cancelled all non-urgent elective admissions to Waterford Regional Hospital following the discovery of suspected cases of the vomiting bug.
Seven patients and two members of staff have reported symptoms consistent with the virus. Tests have been carried out and the patients have been placed in isolated areas.
The results of the tests are not expected to be known until Thursday.
In an effort to curb the spread of the suspected virus, the South Eastern Health Board has immediately initiated stringent arrangements such as the cancellation of all non-urgent admissions.
The hospital has been closed to visitors apart from exceptional circumstances and security will be placed on the entrances to the hospital. All outpatient clinics will proceed as normal.
These arrangements will be reviewed daily.
The South Eastern Health Board has said it is urging members of the public to co-operate with these interim arrangements.