Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I had tabled a similar question. The key issue is consultant cover. Having met the Minister and discussed that issue with him, and I thank him for the meeting with the public representatives from the County Laois area, he will be aware of that. Portlaoise hospital has only 24 hours per week temporary, part-time consultant cover. That is not satisfactory, and the GPs have gone to great lengths to explain that. In terms of throughput over the years, Portlaoise hospital had 38,000 attendances through its emergency department while Tullamore hospital had, on average, about two thirds of that figure. The general practitioners have outlined clearly the interdependency of the other important parts of the hospital, including the maternity and paediatric services, on the emergency department. Its paediatric unit is very busy and is one of the top eight in the country. I ask the Minister to take that into consideration in his deliberations.

See this speech in context