Several hundred thousand living in the South East of Ireland currently rely on the services provided by Waterford Regional Hospital. However as of last week, one of the specialist departments in that hospital shut its doors to all but urgent cases. That is the Dermatology Department where people receive treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, scarring acne and even skin cancer.

Last week, GPs in the region received a letter from one of the hospital's two Dermatology Consultants. In it, he stated that the Department is at crisis point and that a critical incident is waiting to happen. Given than, they are unable to accept any new patients other than the most urgent cases involving suspected skin cancer.

Listen to the exclusive Newstalk Breakfast report below...