Protests planned in hospitals' A&E furore

A number of protests are taking place this weekend in support of hospital emergency services around the country.

In Portlaoise, the Local Hospital Action group has organised a march in the town for 3pm tomorrow against plans to downgrade emergency services at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

Meanwhile a lunchtime protest will take place outside Tallaght Hospital today, claiming the facility has been seriously under-resourced since it opened.

The Tallght protest comes after the Health Information and Quality Authority announced plans earlier this week to investigate safety and governance of care at Tallaght's A&E unit.

Spokesperson for the Tallaght Hospital Action Group, Richie Reilly, said staff were struggling to cope. He said there were three A&E consultants in a facility, while St James' Hospital had four.

"It's not on a level playing pitch," he said.