The HSE is remaining tight-lipped over the future of high-risk maternity services at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.
The matter was raised at the HSE Health Forum West last night - where councillors demanded answers and accountability.
High-risk pregnancies were transferred away from Portiuncula last year amid reviews into an atypically high number of deaths and complications in such cases.
The situation's been described as a "downgrade" and an attack on rural services, but the HSE says the decision was taken purely in the interest of infant safety.
At the Health Forum West last night, HSE management was asked once again when high-risk pregnancies would return to Portiuncula, or what a timeline might look like.
But they weren't able to provide any answer - at least, not an answer that was deemed acceptable by local councillors.
Management described the situation as an ongoing process under active monitoring, but said that ultimately, no decision has been made regarding the future.
Councillor Evelyn Parsons argued it appears to be a permanent downgrade, and without transparency there can be no public confidence.
But a somewhat exasperated HSE management indicated it wasn't willing to go around in circles on the issue.
It stated the situation isn't a downgrade of the service, but the transfer of very specific high-risk cases on safety grounds, with reviews outstanding that could lead to further recommendations.
In that context, it cannot provide a roadmap for the future at this point in time.
