The North Eastern Health Board has adjourned a decision on whether or not to close maternity hospitals in Louth and Monaghan. At a meeting this afternoon, the board voted by 21 to 5 to send a delegation to seek an immediate meeting with the Minister for health, Michael Martin. In the intervening period, the CEO of the health board advised board members that they can be held liable in cases where litigations arise from activities at both hospitals. After the vote, one board member, Dr Peter Wahlrab, resigned, stating that he could not support the further adjournment of this decision.
The Louth and Monaghan maternity units are the only ones in Ireland or Britain run by a sole consultant obstetrician and the health board's insurers say that they will be unable to continue to provide cover unless changes are made.
Guidelines state that a hospital must have a thousand births a year to justify a full maternity unit staffed by three paediatricians, three obstetricians and three anaesthetists. The Louth County Hospital Action Group says that if it had more beds it could deal with that level of demand. At the moment, it has 550 births per year, with many expectant mothers from the area travelling to Drogheda or north of the border to give birth.
Monaghan General hospital has only 340 births a year, with a similar number of expectant mothers from the area going outside the county for maternity services. Supporters of the maternity unit there say that a lack of paediatric facilities at the hospital encourages many others to go elsewhere.
If the maternity units are closed a High Court challenge is likely. Dr Mary Grehan of the Louth County Hospital Action Committee says that she has an agreement with the health board to provide maternity services into next month, and she will seek an injunction to ensure they comply.
