Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue arising from the HIQA report is very important and the question for the Independent-Fine Gael Government is whether it will use it as an excuse to downgrade services and close the hospital or whether it will use the report to improve services. The HIQA report said the hospital was at a critical juncture and that, to function as a model 3 hospital, it must be adequately and sustainably resourced. It said that services were being sustained through a reliance on agency staff which is costly and not good practice from the perspective of service sustainability. It stated that the ongoing reliance on agency staff had significant financial implications for the hospital. It also stated: "The ongoing lack of certainty has a negative effect on staff recruitment, retention and morale, and this further affects the sustainability of services." If firm A is the subject of constant rumours about closing, local tradespeople and other workers will not apply for a job there. They will go to firm B instead, if that firm is on a steady footing. That is what is happening with Portlaoise. None of the past four Governments has put forward a clear, long-term strategic plan for Portlaoise. HIQA said the remaining risks will only be fully addressed through the formulation and enactment of a clear strategic plan.

Last year, almost 37,000 patients attended the emergency department in Portlaoise. There is a problem with capacity across the State and every Deputy in this House knows it. If the emergency department in Portlaoise is closed, where can patients be sent? They cannot be sent to Naas and they cannot be sent to Tallaght or Tullamore because they are already out the door. The report, which is now in the Government's hands, was headed up by Dr. Susan O'Reilly . She is determined to plough on and I heard her on local radio the other morning.

See this speech in context