The chairman of the Midland Health Board, Mr Martin Rohan, has called for an urgent emergency meeting to be convened to discuss a crisis which has arisen in relation to Tullamore General Hospital.
A statement issued by the programme manager, hospital care, Mr John Cregan, at the weekend revealed that the number of hospital beds is to be cut by 21 and one of the three operating theatres is to be closed each day on a rota basis. In addition, there is to be a reduction in nursing, non nursing and administrative hours worked. However, in order to deal with urgent and emergency cases on a 24 hours a day basis, there will be no reduction in medical staff numbers.