The 450 full-time staff at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, have been assured their jobs are not threatened by talks taking place over a change of ownership.
The hospital's chief executive officer, Mr Bob Tucker, said the transfer of ownership from the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood to the Western Health Board would ensure that "no individual member of staff is a casualty".
Founded in 1943, the 250-bed hospital provides a service to parts of the west and the midlands. A £6.7 million extension, to include three theatres, is under construction.
The Franciscan sisters said they no longer had enough members to continue effective ownership and development of the hospital.