Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is committed to securing and further developing the role of the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands hospital group. A number of reports point to the need for a reconfiguration of some services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff who can safely meet their needs. As the Deputy said, significant work has been carried out in recent years to strengthen and stabilise current governance and management arrangements for services in the hospital to ensure the provision of appropriate and safe care for patients.

No decision has been made on the draft action plan for Portlaoise hospital. The most important issue in the consideration of services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, is that patient safety and outcomes must come first. I thank the Deputy for his support. I also thank the staff who worked so diligently. We are very proud of the staff in Portlaoise hospital and, indeed, all front-line staff in the Department of Health across the country. It is wonderful that we are all at one in agreeing that we are very fortunate to have them. I note the Deputy's concerns about the hospital and I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and the officials in the Department of Health on the matter.

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