Up to 2,000 people have marched in Dublin city centre to protest against the withdrawal of full services at Monaghan General Hospital.
The North Eastern Health Board has confirmed that just 17 patients are now being treated in the hospital, which employs almost 300 people but has been taken off call for major services since 2 July.
A spokesperson for the North Eastern Health Board has said the accident and emergency, maternity and gynaecology wards were closed because hospital could not provide 24-hour anaesthetic services.
She said this was because there were no junior doctors in anaesthesia available.
Patients in Monaghan requiring these services are now being referred to hospitals in the surrounding counties.
