The closure of the Bryan W. Whitfield’s labor and delivery department is still under consideration, but it’s date of demise is no longer imminent.

The Bryan W. Whitfield hospital board voted Wednesday to reevaluate closure proceedings August 1 while a panel of representatives explores options to keep it operational permanently.

Should significant progress toward resolution be made in the meantime, Board member Tom Perry committed to extend the deadline.

A committee compiled of three hospital board members, two representatives from the cities of Demopolis and Linden, two county commissioners and three obstetrics physicians will be charged with finding a way to make the department financially viable or finding a way to shed the expense from the hospital’s books.

Among the ideas proposed was the formation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), jointly operated by the hospital and the practicing physicians.