Maternity units in hospitals in Monaghan and Louth will remain open after the threat of closure was avoided today.
Following a meeting between the North-Eastern Health Board (NEHB) and the Minister for Health, the units at Monaghan General and Louth County hospitals are to stay open.
It was decided at today’s meeting that NEHB CEO, Dr Hugh Dolan would write to Minister Martin to request additional posts for the maternity units and would also write to the Board’s insurance company to request continuation of its indemnity coverage.
The maternity units were threatened with closure last week following warnings from their insurers that they would cease to provide indemnity cover at the end of February over safety issues.
Both units are currently staffed by one consultant obstetrician when the requirement for the provision of the service is three.
In a letter to the Minister, Dr Dolan said a "serious and urgent issue has now arisen with regard to patient safety in maternity service delivery units at Monaghan and Dundalk" because of staffing levels.
He said "the possibility of high risk births taking place without the necessary professional back-up for mother and baby is no longer acceptable".
He urged the Department of Health to "meet its obligations" and put in place services which complied with safety standards and internationally recognised best practice recommendations.
Closure of the units would have forced expectant mothers to travel to hospitals in either Drogheda or Cavan.