The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin has been forced to close its inpatient paediatric service, as a consultant has needed to take unplanned long-term leave.
The hospital said that as an interim arrangement only an outpatient and outreach programme can be provided at this time for children who need the service.
The consultant pediatrician was appointed to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin and had also been providing seven hours a week cover to the NRH.
The hospital said it is continuing to carry out assessments, therapy and outpatient services for existing and known paediatric patients.
It added that without consultant paediatrician input, it was impossible to appropriately assess and triage new referrals and medically manage patients.
The NRH said it was working with the HSE and the National Children's Hospital Group to resolve the problem and to restore the much needed consultant paediatric cover, to allow its inpatient service to resume as soon as possible.
