The Health Services Executive has confirmed that there will be no extra beds in Cavan General Hospital to cope with the increased workload when Monaghan hospital is downgraded.
It is estimated that some 3,000 extra patients a year will be diverted to Cavan with the removal of acute services in Monaghan.
The HSE insists extra beds are not needed as measures will be put in place to facilitate the early treatment and early discharge of patients thereby freeing-up the necessary beds.
The Irish Nurses Organisation has expressed serious concern about the HSE's plan.
The INO representative in the northeast, Tony Fitzpatrick, says his members in Cavan have grave concerns about the move.
He claims that 50 medical beds are being taken from the health system in the region and with Cavan General Hospital already overcrowded the situation there will only get worse.
Today, around 250 people turned up for a demonstration outside Monaghan General Hospital to try to have the HSE reverse the decision.
