Surgical services will resume at Monaghan General Hospital following the recruitment of a temporary anaesthetist, the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) said this evening.
Consultants and management of the Cavan/Monaghan Hospital Group were in talks throughout the day over the cancellation of emergency and elective surgery due to a lack of anaesthetists.
The cancellation was necessary because the hospital could not provide 24-hour anaesthetic cover for emergency situations, such as cardiac arrest.
A spokesperson for the NEHB said a temporary anaesthetist has been recruited and the hospital will be able to provide emergency services.
She said the consultants and management will meet again on Monday to establish what other surgical services will go ahead.
The President of the College of Anaesthetists, Professor Anthony Cunningham, yesterday evening offered to intervene with the aim of resolving the difficulties as soon as possible.
The hospital has been unable to recruit doctors with the required specialty in the area. There was also a shortage in consultant staff.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin has said he is committed to the future of the hospital as a fully operational facility. However, commenting after a three-hour meeting with NEHB representatives yesterday, Mr Martin would not put a target date on when surgery might resume at the hospital.