Face-to-face outpatient clinics are being deferred at Sligo University Hospitals for the next 2 weeks
And what's being described as 'only time-dependent and critical day cases and inpatient procedures' will take place
Meanwhile, it's expected the rollout of the Covid vaccine to frontline workers in the hospital will start this week.
Sligo University Hospital is immediately deferring all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery.
Outpatient clinics will also be cancelled.
However, some of these clinics will take place virtually, unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen.
The measures are being taken to help the hospital manage the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases currently being treated in the hospital and the rising numbers in the community which are likely to lead to further hospitalisations.
The deferrals will be for a two week period initially and will be kept under review.
Grainne McCann, Sligo University Hospital Manager, told Ocean FM News that the hospital regretted the impact these deferrals will have on patients.
But she said it was a really important part of maintaining critical and emergency services.
She says a small number of urgent cancer and time-critical inpatient and day case procedures will proceed.
Patients will be notified directly if their appointment or procedure is being deferred.
Ms McCann is also asking patients who are attending the hospital for a procedure to continue to follow all the public health guidance, including wearing a face mask.
And she says patients should attend the hospital alone, unless the support of another person is essential.
Visiting restrictions remain in place at the hospital and members of the public should not visit except on compassionate grounds.
These visits should be arranged in advance with the nurse manager on the ward.
People should attend the Emergency Department only in the case of emergencies; otherwise people should contact their GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP out of hours service, in the first instance.
In relation to the COVID-19 vaccination programme, Ms McCann said they anticipated that the roll-out of the vaccines to frontline workers in the hospital will commence this week.
