Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has become the third hospital in two days to postpone all non-urgent elective procedures, due to overcrowding in its Emergency Department (ED).

On Thursday, Cork University Hospital and Dublin's Mater Hospital made the same decision due to major pressure in their EDs. A small number of non-urgent procedures were also postponed at St James's Hospital in Dublin.

Cork University Hospital pointed out that between January 11 and 19, 1,735 patients had attended its ED, with nearly 900 of these requiring hospital admission.

Meanwhile, the Mater Hospital had called on members of the public to attend their GP where possible or the Rapid Injury Clinic in nearby Smithfield for minor injuries.