The North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) will decide today on whether to close two of its maternity units in Dundalk and Monaghan following the board's failure to obtain adequate insurance cover for the services.
The board is believed to have discussed the matter in detail at its monthly meeting on January 22nd but deferred a decision until today.
Both units are presently staffed by one consultant obstetrician when the requirement for the provision of the service is three. This has led the board's insurers to warn they would not continue to provide indemnity cover for the maternity services.
The NEHB argue the number of deliveries in Dundalk and Monaghan is not sufficient for an increase in the consultant staffing.
A report by the board's chief executive officer says: "An increase in the consultant staffing at Monaghan and Dundalk is not an option as the number of deliveries at each of the two units is far below the minimum required by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to maintain consultant skills and provide a basis for training and supervision of trainee specialists".
The Louth County Hospital Action Group is expected to hold a protest outside the board's meeting in Kells this afternoon.
The group's chairwoman, Dr Mary Grehan, who has a number of patients booked for services in the Dundalk unit is seeking a legal injunction against the closure.
She claims the problem has arisen from the board's failure to make adequate facilities and funds available to the unit.
Closure of the Dundalk and Monaghan units will mostly likely mean those needing to avail of the service will be forced to travel to either Drogheda or Cavan.
