Elective admissions are to be cancelled at a Tipperary hospital from tomorrow because of industrial action by nurses.
About 150 members of the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) voted by a large majority in favour of the action at St Joseph's Hospital in Clonmel because of serious overcrowding.
Management has asked GPs referring patients for admission to seek access to other hospitals instead and it has also advised that information on patients will not be given by telephone while the action is in place.
A row between the INO and the South-Eastern Health Board intensified this week when the union accused the board of failing to honour commitments to alleviate the overcrowding problem.
Industrial action due to begin last week had been deferred following a meeting between the two sides.
The INO said it had agreed to the deferral on two conditions: that management would make a serious effort to remove beds from the corridors of St Joseph's and the union would be informed daily of progress.
"Unfortunately, management have not been in contact with the INO since last Wednesday and it again shows the lack of commitment from management to resolve this problem," it said in a statement. This was rejected by the health board, which said it had been in contact with the union "on Wednesday p.m., Thursday a.m. and Monday p.m.".
The decision to cease elective admissions from tomorrow was taken by the hospital's executive committee at a meeting on Tuesday evening, after the INO had announced its action was going ahead.
Nurses will withdraw co-operation with the placing of beds on corridors and refuse to carry out "non-nursing duties" such as the making of beds.
Union-management talks are to take place today and the Labour Relations Commission has indicated it will facilitate further discussions if necessary.
A spokeswoman for the health board said the hospital was undergoing a multi-million pound re-development, including the addition of a 23-bed medical unit to be opened in 18 months.
The board recognised the difficulties experienced by staff, patients and relatives due to the overcrowding which arose from increased medical referrals and admissions, as well as the ongoing building work.
The health board was warned last May by the Tipperary South chief fire officer that it was in breach of its fire-safety duties by placing beds on the corridors and should remove them.
