Meeting on future of Monaghan hospital underway

A meeting on the future of Monaghan General hospital is now underway at the Department of Health in Dublin.

Minister Michael Martin is holding talks with North Eastern Health board officials and local TD’s, who claim the hospital is effectively closed.

It is only remaining open for emergency and elective surgery, with a lack of anaesthetists being blamed.

Yesterday patients were turned away as they were arriving for surgery, causing great anger.

The North Eastern Health Board claims that the hospital is not closed, saying the problem is only temporary as they cannot currently recruit non-EU Anaesthetists.