The Health Service Executive is being accused of continuing efforts to close South Tipperary General Hospital by stealth.
The accusation from South Tipperary Deputy Mattie McGrath follows news that the Embalming Service has been removed from the Clonmel hospital.
The independent T.D says the service was being utilised, describing it as yet another example of the HSE’S downgrading of the hospital.
The move will add further stress and costs to bereaved families as the deceased's body will have to be brought elsewhere to be embalmed according to Deputy McGrath.
