There has been a breakthrough in the crisis at Monaghan General Hospital, with the North Eastern Health Board agreeing to establish a forum to "try to resolve the current service difficulties" following a meeting on Tuesday.
The chief executive officer of the health board, Mr Paul Robinson, has agreed to accept recommendations from the forum on the "optimum level of safe and sustainable acute and other services" at the hospital, "consistent with the requirements and standards of the Medical Council, Royal College of Surgeons, Royal College of Physicians and College of Anaesthetists".
A spokesman for Monaghan Community Alliance, Mr Peadar McMahon, expressed deep reservations about the development, however. "There is a ratio of 3:6 against any local representatives being on this forum. It's not satisfactory, it doesn't help overcome the fear around Monaghan of suddenly falling ill or doesn't remove the possibility of death from delay in being taken to an accident & emergency department in another county," he said.
"It will be February before any action will be taken on these recommendations and, meanwhile, the Royal College of Surgeons is removing five junior doctors on December 31st. There will be no hospital in Monaghan by February," he told The Irish Times.
Since July 1st last, anyone in the Monaghan area requiring accident & emergency ambulance services has been sent to hospitals in Cavan, Dundalk, Drogheda or as far away as Dublin.
Emergency services were removed from Monaghan after accreditation for junior doctors in anaesthetics failed to be secured. The hospital has been operating a 9-to-5 emergency service after it was taken off 24-hour call.
Some Monaghan men and women have taken matters into their own hands and are maintaining a continuous 24-hour fasting presence outside the Dáil in an effort to highlight the current "disastrous" situation at the hospital.
Picketing of the Department of the Taoiseach by volunteers from Monaghan is into its second week.
Mr Gerry McMahon from Clones was one of four men participating in the protest outside the Department yesterday.
"I didn't sleep at all last night, it was too cold to sleep. We're only drinking water here during our fast," he said. "It's not right. If someone from Monaghan gets sick they have to go all the way to Cavan or somewhere else. It's too far."
The protest will run until October 28th and includes members of Monaghan Town Council, Monaghan County Council and many concerned members of the public.
"The Taoiseach's intervention is crucial at this stage if Monaghan General Hospital is to remain the vibrant health care deliverer it has been up to now," the TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said.
Mr Ó Caoláin said the protesters want to "create the dynamic that creates the imperative for the Taoiseach to intervene. They have upped the ante by bringing it to the Taoiseach's Office."
Meanwhile, Cavan gynaecology is unable to continue with certain gynaecological operations because of the overwhelmed facilities there.
"The present situation is impacting on Cavan hospital. Drogheda is similar," Mr McMahon said.
"We are telling Louth that Dundalk hospital is next - they have removed the same services there and then they tell us that it's not downgrading a hospital."