Staff shortages meant the unit – which normally operates from 8am to 8pm each day – only opened at 1 o'clock this afternoon and will close against at 7 this evening.
A spokesperson for the HSE said the UL Hospitals group had undertaken every action possible to secure a suitably qualified doctor for the full shift but had only been successful in covering the restricted opening hours.
However Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients Association says this is not good enough.
