Services cut at Louth hospital

The Louth County Hospital in Dundalk has become the latest victim of the health cuts today.

Services are being cut back between now and the end of the year because the HSE is running over budget.

A 24-bed surgical ward will be closed with an eight-bed ward being used for surgery.

There will be no elective surgery carried out at the hospital for six weeks from December 7.

The HSE has said it hopes to offset the cut in bed numbers by making greater use of day case procedures.