The Health Service Executive has confirmed that all non-emergency surgeries at Waterford Regional Hospital and other acute hospitals in the south east will stop from 15 December until the middle of January.
While there is normally a reduction of surgeries at hospitals over Christmas, this is a longer period than in previous years and is being implemented to save money.
The HSE says all essential services, including emergency admissions, will continue to operate as normal during this period.
There is no indication from the HSE as to how many procedures are being postponed, or how much money will be saved in the process.
