A bitter war of words has erupted between management at Peamont Hospital in Dublin and the Irish Nurses Organisation over the future of services at the hospital.
The INO members are protesting at the gates of the hospital in Newcastle, Co Dublin today over what the union claims are plans to cut back on facilities, including specialist chest and TB services.
The INO warns that if TB patients are forced to travel to other hospitals for treatment, they risk spreading the disease and infecting others.
Hospital management, in response, accused the INO in a statement of being "alarmist" and "misleading".
They said their plans were to make the hospital an independent rehabilitation model and to develop its continuing community care service.
INO Industrial Relations Officer, Ms Colette Mullins said the fact that the hospital did not refute the argument about TB patients being forced to travel elsewhere proved the union's point.
"The statement confirmed that we have every right to be concerned at the future strategy of the hospital," she said.
She said the union had serious concerns about the plans for the hospital and was insisting they be addressed before it would comply with restructuring.
