Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
606. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide explicit assurances that no plans are in place to downgrade services currently in operation at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, including a downgrading of the emergency department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54312/21]
View answerI am committed to securing and further developing the role of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
The Deputy will be aware that the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise has been the focus of a number of investigations and reports in recent years. The reports point to the need to reconfigure some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff who can safely meet their needs. Against that backdrop, the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group submitted a draft action plan some time ago for a new model of clinical service delivery at the hospital. That plan takes account of the need to develop services at Portlaoise in the context of developing a model of service provision to span the Hospital Group.
While no decision has yet been taken on the draft action plan, it is important that in any consideration of services at the hospital, patient safety and patient outcomes are the priority. It is also important that any reconfiguration of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is undertaken in the context of, and aligned with, the overall Sláintecare process and the progression of the Regional Health Areas.
