Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has implemented visiting restrictions following an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, also known as norovirus.

Hospital officials say they have experienced pressure on services, including the emergency department, in recent days.

The hospital is urging members of the public who are symptomatic of the norovirus to seek advice from their local GP before going to the hospital's emergency department.

Key symptoms include nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Under visiting restrictions only one visitor per patient per visiting period is permitted, while children are not permitted to visit under any circumstances. 

The hospital says the restrictions have been put in place as a preventative measure and is appealing to the public for their support in observing these restrictions.