Operation Bambino . . . the transfer of 46 mothers and babies, 30 pregnant women and 28 neo-natal babies from the three existing maternity hospitals, the Erinville, St Finbarr's and the Bons Secours . . .

began at 11am and the hospital opened to admissions at 3pm.

Late Friday night, 200 INO members voted by 62% to 38% to accept a revised proposal from the HSE which involved opening 128 beds at the 144bed hospital with a staffing level of 335. This proposal included 20 more staff than the HSE's previous offer, which was turned down by over 98% of union members.

News of the acceptance was welcomed by the HSE. Barry O'Brien, assistant national director of human resources, HSE South said, "The facility. . .

will provide a world-class service in a world-class environment for maternity patients."

The 75m hospital will see 7,500 births a year. "There are helicopters arriving and ambulances and buses, all bringing mums and babies from the three hospitals, " said a HSE South spokeswoman.

"More than 300 staff are working to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Talks between nursing unions and health service employers continued yesterday amid growing concern that a threatened strike by 40,000 nurses nationwide could go ahead tomorrow.