All four children's hospitals in Dublin are at 'critical capacity' and parents are being advised to seek care elsewhere.
Services at Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals are under 'extreme pressure.'
Children's Health Ireland, which operates the hospitals, says it's working very hard in extremely challenging circumstances.
The group says a 'perfect storm' of viruses are circulating in the community at the moment.
It says lockdown measures to protect from Covid19 means children born during the restrictions haven't experienced illness until now.
Dr Ike Okafor, Clinical Director in Children’s Health Ireland says: "We have reached a point where we are under pressure with patient numbers on all four of our sites – Connolly, Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple Street.
"Our staff are working very hard in challenging circumstances.
"We are asking families to please access care for minor injuries and illnesses in their local care centre, GP or pharmacy.
"This is a perfect storm – there are high levels of viruses in the community at the moment, and due to earlier appropriate measures to protect from COVID-19, families have not experienced illness in their children who were born during lockdown and we also have some very sick babies presenting to our ED’s who need acute care. We need to concentrate our resources on these sickest children.
"Management and clinical teams are exploring all options to support safe staffing in our Emergency Departments, critical care and wards.
"We have already deployed staff across our sites and can’t thank each staff member enough for what they are doing to keep our hospitals functioning. It is beyond the call of duty."
Priority
Very sick babies are presenting to Dublin's Emergency Departments that need acute care, and CHI says resources must be focused on those children who need it most.
Those with minor illnesses or injuries should seek care in a GP surgery or a pharmacy.
CHI is also urging parents to get their children vaccinated against the flu.
CHI EDs, EDU & UCC are experiencing extremely high numbers of patients.
If your child does not require emergency/urgent care please consider seeing your GP or Pharmacist or managing from home.
Expect long waits if emergency/urgent care not needed. Please be kind to our staff. pic.twitter.com/SrQTMN8x90— Children's Health Ireland (@CHI_Ireland) December 6, 2022
The hospital operator says it 'cannot thank staff enough' for their efforts, which are beyond the call of duty.
However it added seriously sick or injured children should be brought to an Emergency Department.
