The North Eastern Health Board has issued a strong statement contradicting claims that proposals to establish a joint surgical department between the two main hospitals in Louth would be "unsafe".
As part of the proposals, consultant surgeons would be based in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and be on call to attend the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk after 5 p.m. from July next.
The board says this will lead to more elective surgery in Dundalk, an enhanced service to patients, an increase in consultant surgical staff with dedicated commitments to the hospital, reduced waiting lists and the provision of emergency care in accordance with best medical practice.
Last Friday a statement from the medical board of the Louth County Hospital - which was signed by its chairman, Dr Tom O'Callaghan, and issued to LMFM radio - claimed the reorganisation would be "totally unsafe in every respect".
It also said reports that the proposals had been previously "reviewed or agreed by the medical board or any consultant at the Louth County Hospital are completely unfounded".
Yesterday the NEHB said that plans for the joint department of surgery were agreed last year and that they were approved by the medical board of the Louth County Hospital, and the first that was known of any concerns was when Dr O'Callaghan did an interview with LMFM radio.
"The proposal to develop a joint department of surgery was discussed and agreed at a meeting between Comhairle na nOspidéal, the medical board at Louth County Hospital, and senior management, held on March 28th, 2003. Following this meeting the applications were submitted to Comhairle na nOspidéal on June 12th, 2003, for their consideration," the health board said yesterday.
"Subsequently on two occasions copies of the completed applications were given to the chairperson of the medical board by senior managers, the first occasion being in June 2003.
The chairperson of the medical board was also offered a meeting by letter on July 29th, 2003, to meet with senior management to discuss the applications.
This offer was not responded to and management did not receive any indication from the medical board of concern with the contents of these forms until the aforementioned interview with LMFM radio," it added.