The proposed downgrading of Nenagh General Hospital and the closure of its Accident and Emergency Unit is viewed locally as a major blow to north Tipperary's health services.
Locals voiced concern that the move could put people's lives in danger because of increased travel times to the A&E service in the Mid West Regional Hospital in Limerick.
Labour Senator Kathleen O'Meara said the Hanly report's recommendations represented a "major blow to north Tipperary and the health service in the mid-west region.
"Today it takes longer to travel through Limerick to get to the Regional Hospital from Tipperary. Everyone knows people that have been saved in the past because of the quality services that are provided at Nenagh Hospital," she said.
The senator added that services at the Mid West Regional Hospital in Limerick are already stretched to capacity. "There are approximately 11,000 people using Nenagh Hospital's A&E service each year. If these people are forced to travel to Limerick for the same services, they are facing massive queues which already have a waiting time of two and a half hours," said Ms O'Meara.
Ms Christine O'Malley, chairwoman of the Irish Medical Organisation's consultant committee and chairwoman of the medical board at Nenagh Hospital, and a consultant geriatrician at Nenagh General Hospital, said her greatest concern was the impact the recommended changes would have on the public.
Ms O'Malley called on the Minister for Health to undertake a "patient impact statement" to examine the effects the closure of the A&E department would have on the medical services and the people using them in the region. "Without major changes in GP services and ambulance services it is difficult to see how these changes can work," Ms O'Malley said.