Opposition parties have hit out at reports that A&E units at three hospitals in the midwest are to be closed and replaced with nurse-led minor injury units.
Labour's health spokeswoman Liz McManus said yesterday that the plan to downgrade the A&E units at Nenagh and Ennis general hospitals and St John's Hospital in Limerick was very worrying. "This will create serious problems and possible risks for local communities," she said.
She added that there was already undue pressure on A&E services at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where A&E services would be centralised under the new plan.
Limerick East Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell said it would be a retrograde step if the A&E services at St John's Hospital was downgraded. Sinn Féin's health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for a national campaign against the cuts.
The Nenagh Hospital Action Group said it would meet to draw up a plan in the event of a recommendation to remove A & E services from Nenagh.
Brian Meaney of the Ennis General Hospital Development Committee warned of "civil disobedience protests" if there was any attempt to downgrade or close the A&E unit in Ennis.
It is understood the HSE is training more advanced paramedics ahead of the expected downgrading of the three A&E units.