Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2017
56. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if, having met with various stakeholders and having had the opportunity to study the report and recommendations supplied by a person (details supplied) in December 2016, he has made a decision regarding the future of accident and emergency services in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. [20204/17]
View answer67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) to his Department expressing concerns about the lack of a plan for service provision at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. [20203/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 67 together.
My Department and the HSE are committed to securing and developing the role of Portlaoise Hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
Reports on Portlaoise Hospital in recent years point to the need for reconfiguration of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff that can safely meet their needs. The HSE has submitted a draft Action Plan to my Department and it is currently being reviewed in detail.
The most important issue in relation to any changes at Portlaoise Hospital is that patient safety and good quality outcomes must come first. Any changes to services at Portlaoise, once approved, will be undertaken in a planned and orderly manner to further improve services for patients at the hospital and will take account of existing patient flows and demands in other hospitals, as well as the need to develop particular services at Portlaoise in the context of the overall service configuration in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
