AN AVERAGE OF JUST OVER ONE PATIENT A NIGHT HAS VISITED A TEMPORARY OUT-OF-HOURS , URGENT CARE UNIT,  SET UP IN ROSCOMMON HOSPITAL SINCE LAST MONTH WHEN THE A AND E SERVICE WAS CLOSED DOWN.

A 24-HOUR SERVICE FROM JUNIOR DOCTORS, SUPERVISED BY A CONSULTANT, HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE THE A&E WAS DOWNGRADED -- BUT THAT TEMPORARY SERVICE ENDS TODAY.

THE HOSPITAL WILL REVERT TO THE COVER OF JUNIOR DOCTORS FROM 8AM TO 8PM, WITH GPS TAKING OVER AT NIGHT.

THE HSE SAYS THAT OVER A PERIOD OF 22 DAYS BETWEEN JULY 11 AND AUGUST 2, ONLY 24 CASES HAVE ATTENDED THE HOSPITAL OUTSIDE OF THE 8AM TO 8PM WINDOW.

THE ROSCOMMON HOSPITAL ACTION GROUP IS NOT ACCEPTING THE HSE’S STATITISTICS AND IS INSISTING THAT THE FIGHT TO RESTORE A AND E SERVICES AT THE HOSPITAL WILL CONTINUE.

ON SATURDAY, IN EXCESS OF A THOUSAND PEOPLE PROTESTED AGAINST THE REDUCTION OF SERVICES AT THE HOSPITAL.

THERE WILL BE A FURTHER PROTEST THIS EVENING OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL. ON SATURDAY NEXT A PROTEST WILL TAKE PLACE IN BOYLE AND ON SUNDAY WEEK PROTESTERS WILL TRAVEL TO CROKE PARK WHERE ROSCOMMON AND MAYO COMPETE IN THE ALL IRELAND SEMI FINALS AT MINOR AND SENIOR LEVEL RESPECTIVELY.

HOSPITAL ACTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JOHN MCDERMOT TOLD MIDWEST NEWS THIS MORNING THAT IF THE PROTEST HAS TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IT WILL, UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT LISTEN.