Procedures postponed following rise in children's bacterial infections
All routine procedures at Belfast's paediatric hospital have been postponed after an increase in children presenting with bacterial and viral infections.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Belfast Trust said the hospital is experiencing "very significant pressures".
It said 227 children attended its emergency department on Tuesday, and that the number of children attending with symptoms of bacterial and viral infections has increased.
"Unfortunately, we have taken the very difficult decision to postpone all routine procedures at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children to allow our staff to care for those children with serious or time critical illness at this time.
"We appreciate how difficult this will be for families and children and we apologise for the distress this may cause."