Nurses from across central Newfoundland converged on Lewisporte Thursday for an outdoor rally against a job cut that supporters say could have far-reaching effects on health care in the region.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union says when the new hospital in Lewisporte opens in the fall, there will be one less registered nurse working there at night.

Union president Debbie Forward says the planned cut at Lewisporte's new hospital will hurt the level of care in the region. (CBC )

But the union and its supporters say the cut will have a greater effect, with four or five people possibly looking for work elsewhere.

"We're just putting another nail in the grave of the emergency service in Lewisporte and soon this will deteriorate further and further and we will lose it totally," said Dr. Rasheed Kadhem, a family doctor in the town who supported the rally.

The union said the cuts are worrisome.

"We have some very serious concerns about the impact on patient care as a result," said nurses union president Debbie Forward.

Central Health says it no longer needs as many registered nurses, and that licensed practical nurses will take on expanded roles for patient care in the region.

As well, the authority says few people use the after-hours clinic, with an average of one patient requiring care after midnight. And Central Health says those cases are rarely emergencies.