Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the cutbacks to accident and emergency services at Portlaoise which were announced recently, although some might say that no final decisions have been made.

There was a report in The Irish Timeslast September which stated that Department of Health submissions to the Government's comprehensive spending review suggested closing 24-hour services at five hospital accident and emergency departments, including Portlaoise hospital. For several months, the HSE, the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have planned for what was announced last week. It has now been said that no final decision has been made and that charade will continue for some time to come.

Since that announcement was made there have been further difficulties in Portlaoise hospital as a result of a lack of funding and resources provided by the Minister and the HSE. This time last year there were 41 people waiting over one year for an outpatient appointment. Today, the number has increased by 427 to 468 people, a tenfold increase, or a 1,000%, increase in the number of people.

We know there have been problems in the maternity unit. I will give the Minister credit for addressing them properly. The changes have resulted in an additional 15 or 16 staff being employed and the memorandum of understanding with the Coombe hospital, which is now managing the facility. We are happy to have national management and standards in the maternity unit in Portlaoise hospital. What is now needed is the same dedicated approach to the accident and emergency unit to ensure that additional staff can do their work.

I would be happy for St. James's Hospital, which is in the group, to take over the management and control of the accident and emergency department in Portlaoise hospital to ensure national standards apply and services are delivered there.

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