Helplines to deal with inquiries from anxious Mount Carmel patients have been flooded with around 500 queries.

It follows Friday's announcement that the hospital is to close with the loss of over 300 jobs.

According to the liquidation firm, RSM Farrell Grant Sparks, many of the inquiries are patients looking for advice on their appointments.

The advice is if you have a maternity appointment then go to Mount Carmel until an alternative plan is put in place.

Health economist Brian Turner of UCC, spoke to Newstalk's Breakfast: 

The helpline will operate from 9am to 5pm daily and can be reached on 01-408-6966 or by e-mail to mountcarmel@rsmfgs.ie