Up to 275 operations will not go ahead in the Southern Health Board region because of the nurses' strike which begins today.
At the Cork University Hospital, the busiest in the Republic, only 70 nurses will be on duty as opposed to the 260 who normally staff the wards. Of the 550 beds, some 90 will be closed.
At least nine patients with cardiac difficulties will be among those to have their operations cancelled. In all, 110 operations are expected to be cancelled at the hospital this week, and patients have been advised that unless their illness is life-threatening, they should seek help from their own GP.
Cork University Hospital will continue to work its accident and emergency unit as well as two surgical theatres. But unless patients are desperately in need of help, they will not be accepted at the hospital, a spokesman for the Southern Health Board, which administers the CUH, said.
As many as 100 major operations, which had been scheduled at Tralee General Hospital, will not now go ahead, and at the Bantry General Hospital a further 24 operations have been cancelled.
While the lists in the Southern Health Board region for patients in need of surgery have been cut back, the board insists that the trimming of the lists has been on the basis only of those who can wait a further time for surgery.
The board said that together with the Nursing Alliance and the board authorities, a definition of emergency service has been drawn up - and in cases where a consultant gives an opinion that a patient needs urgent care the nurses will respond.
In a statement yesterday the Southern Health Board said: "Management and strike committees have been working on the principle on ensuring patients' safety and covering emergencies. They also worked on the principle of establishing a good liaison between management and the strike committees . . . "Management expects from reassurances received from the Nursing Alliance that necessary cover will be provided."
It is understood this will mean even in the case of nurses who are on picket duty that if an emergency arises, they will agree to return to work.