Louth hospital baby unit is forced to close down

Oct 1988

THE maternity unit at Louth county hospital is forced to close for two months, and all births are transferred to Drogheda and Newry hospitals.

The measure is only temporary according to the North Eastern Health Board, and not the first step in a process to close the ward altogether.

‘ The decision has been forced on us by the failure to find a suitable deputy for the resident obstetrician/ gynaecologist, Dr Séamus Fallon,’ says Des Scully, programme manager, NEHB.

He adds maternity will re-open when Dr Fallon returns from Australia on 1 December.

However, speaking from Australia, where he is holidaying for eight weeks, Dr Fallon reveals the board was notified last June of his intending departure and also of the locum he nominated to take his place.

‘I am deeply upset and annoyed that this situation should have arisen, and that patients should have been caused the extra anxiety of travelling out of Dundalk.’

It is estimated that between 90 and 100 women, some with difficult pregnancies, are due to give birth in the Louth over the duration of Dr Fallon’s holiday.

The health board responds that a problem arose over the nominated locum.

‘We had great difficulty getting him to supply us with details of his experience and CV,’ says Mr Scully.

Dr Fallon maintains he is fully satisfied as to the competence of the locum he nominated.

‘Professionally, he is very competent and highly qualified and, having worked with him a week before I left, I was satisfied he was well capable to take over from me.’