An estimated 8,000 people marched in Roscommon this morning in protest at the possibility of cuts at the town's hospital.
Marchers gathered at Dr Hyde Park at 11am and then marched to Roscommon General Hospital where participants joined hands around the building.
Marchers at the Impact-organised 'Hands of our Hospital' protest were later addressed by speakers during a rally in Roscommon town centre.
Unions and Health Service Executive West management have agreed to begin consultations at local level early next week to explore “all options” in tackling a potential €91 million deficit in the region.
A joint statement was issued last night in which the parties said it was "agreed that all options to reduce expenditure would be further jointly explored".
These options would include "non-pay savings, reduced hours, career breaks, unpaid leave, flexibility in the re-allocation of staff, and phasing out expenditure on agency staff where possible".
However, Impact believes Roscommon and Portiuncula hospitals are under threat and has warned against any unilateral action on the part of the HSE.
A similar protest will take place on Tuesday at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.