Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important matter. I know he has a strong and passionate interest in health service issues, as well as in the area covered by my portfolio, namely, disabilities.

The Minister for Health has stated previously the most important issue in the consideration of services at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, is that patient safety and outcomes must come first. The Minister for Health is committed to securing and further developing the role of the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, as a constituent hospital in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

Reports on Portlaoise hospital in recent years have pointed to the need for restructuring of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff who can safely meet their needs. Since 2014, the focus has been on supporting the hospital to develop and enhance management capability, implementing changes required to address clinical service deficiencies, and incorporating the hospital into the governance structures in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Significant work has been undertaken to strengthen and stabilise current arrangements for services at the hospital to ensure services provided which are not sustainable are discontinued, while those that are sustainable are safety assured and adequately resourced.

The HSE has confirmed the hospital's funding has increased by 28% relative to the 2012 budget and staffing levels have risen by 29% from the 2014 base. Funding of €300,000 has also been provided this year to facilitate the opening of the new medical assessment unit. In addition, governance and management arrangements in Portlaoise hospital have been strengthened, additional clinical staff have been appointed and staff training, hospital culture and communications have improved.

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise hospital. A draft plan was submitted to the Department of Health in December 2016. It was reviewed in detail and was the subject of detailed engagement between Department officials and the HSE. Significant additional work was undertaken by the HSE on foot of this engagement resulting in a revised draft plan submitted to the Department in September 2017.

Patient and public requirements are paramount and have underpinned the Department's consideration of the draft plan. The report is currently under detailed consideration in the Department of Health. Once there is an agreed position on the draft plan, it is intended there will be further engagement with all interested parties to ensure the needs of patients, staff, as well as the local and wider community, are addressed. Any future changes to services at Portlaoise hospital would have to take account of existing patient flows and demands in other hospitals, as well as the need to develop particular services at Portlaoise in the context of the overall service configuration in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.