Staff and patients to protest at cuts in Connolly Hospital

A meeting against the downgrading of services at Connolly Hospital in Dublin is due to take place later.

Campaigners say they fear the facility could be "the next Roscommon General", after €300,000 was cut from the facility's monthly budget recently.

Sinn Féin's candidate in the Dublin West by-election, Paul Donnelly said the Government must listen to the views of staff and patients before any more decisions on funding are made.

"The aim of the meeting is to influence policy and ensure that the services we have at the moment are maintained in Connolly Hospital," he said.