The Health Service Executive (HSE) has cancelled all non-emergency hospital procedures scheduled for Monday and Tuesday as a result of the day of industrial action by public sector trade unions.
In a statement issued this evening, the HSE said day care activity will continue as normal on Monday but that any procedures which require admission to hospital will not take place until after the day of action. In addition, all out-patient and Swine Flu vaccination clinics will be closed on Tuesday.
Hospitals have begun contacting patients by letter, telephone and in some cases SMS text messages to advise them of services and procedures affected by the industrial action and alternative appointments are being arranged.
The HSE said emergency departments and ambulance services will operate what it called a 'Christmas Day level' of cover in hospitals on Tuesday. The public has been advised not to present to emergency departments unless necessary.
Voluntary intellectual disability and care of the elderly services will still have operate as unions have agreed to maintain cover in critical areas such as these and in maternity, intensive care, oncology, chemotherapy and burns.
"The public need to be aware the health services will be reduced to Christmas day levels on Tuesday of next week. It is important for patient safety that non-emergency procedures do not proceed during the strike action," said Dr Joe Devlin, HSE directorate of Quality & Clinical Care.
Health professionals who are members of IMPACT and SIPTU will be on strike on Tuesday. Members of the Irish Medical Organisation, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association did not ballot for industrial action.
The Irish Dental Association received a mandate for industrial action but is to work as normal.
On an average day the 50 acute hospitals in the HSE system see more than of 13,900 out patients each day, handle some 2,700 day case discharges, treat some 3,200 patients in emergency departments and see 1,600 inpatients discharged. Community based services will also be affected by the industrial action.
