There are people in the Northern Sound region who cannot understand how Monaghan and Cavan Hospitals work as a operate as a one-site hospital.
That's according to local Fine Gael TD, David Maxwell.
Speaking in an Oireachtas committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, Deputy Maxwell mentioned Monaghan hospital.
He said that Monaghan hospital has been off call since 2011 as a hospital with an accident and emergency unit- although it has a minor injuries unit.
Deputy Maxwell told the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill that Craigavon, Enniskillen, and Daisy Hill hospitals are all under "severe pressure" in their A&E units.
In her response, Minister Carroll McNeill said that Monaghan has been the beneficiary of considerable investment in terms of funding and people.
However, Deputy Maxwell explained the situation with hospitals along the border.
He said: "I have to go parochial now. I live on the Border. Monaghan hospital has been off call since 2011 as a hospital with an accident and emergency unit, although it has a minor injuries unit. We have Daisy Hill, Craigavon, Enniskillen and Altnagelvin hospitals along the Border. Cavan and Monaghan hospitals operate as a one-site hospital. Some people cannot understand how that works.
"Monaghan provides day-care services and day procedures. It does it very well and is busy, but if you go up to Monaghan hospital tonight, it will be empty. The day services finish at 5 o'clock. Craigavon, Enniskillen and Daisy Hill hospitals are all under severe pressure in their accident and emergency units.
"If we consider Armagh, is there a possibility there for Monaghan to increase the population it serves? People would have a 24-7 accident and emergency department or minor injuries unit closer to hand and nearer the patient.
"We cannot have acute or specialised services in every parish. That is a given. Maybe Daisy Hill hospital would get one service while Dundalk would get a different one. It would move about, from Craigavon, Monaghan and Enniskillen hospitals up into Sligo hospital and Altnagelvin hospital.
"Is it on the Minister's radar to look at cross-Border work on the hospitals that people say have been downgraded since their accident and emergency units closed and to give them a new lease of life?" Deputy Maxwell asked.
