More than 100 general practitioners have supported a vote of no confidence in the management of Mallow General Hospital claiming that the Health Service Executive is trying to downgrade the facility.
The HSE has reduced the number of surgeons at the hospital from three to two, while a CT scanner bought two years ago has yet to be commissioned.
The HSE denies that Mallow is being down-graded, pointing out that the hospital's budget increased by 14% this year.
Mallow General Hospital has 80 beds and caters for a population of more than 100,000 people.
A CT scanner bought in 2006 for €1.5m has yet to be commissioned.
Only five of the 12 consultants in Mallow are on permanent contracts and now the HSE has decided not to renew the contract of a temporary surgeon and to close the Accident and Emergency Unit there at weekends.
However, the HSE denies the charge that services at Mallow are being downgraded.
