Fears for the surgery service in Laois hospital as doctors redeployed to Offaly

There is new concern for the future of the surgical department in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, with staff being sent to Tullamore hospital to perform some surgeries.

While the Laois hospital has in recent years seen millions of euros invested in infrastructure and more staff, and more on the way, it’s understood that the surgical department is not operating at full capacity, raising worry for the HSE’s plans.

Laois TD Sean Fleming has called into question the HSE's commitment to the future of surgery at Portlaoise hospital, describing a new statement it has made this Thursday, July 23 as “meaningless”.

“There is no timescale included in the statement. Is the phased delivery 3 months, 1 year, 5 years or 10 years?

“Without this information, this statement is meaningless and unsatisfactory. It is totally unacceptable to the people of Laois. Please provide information in relation to the phased delivery referred to in the statement,” he has urged the HSE.

Dep Fleming received a further statement from the HSE saying “the approach will be subject to review after a six month period”.

The Fianna Fáil TD Fleming says he is raising the matter directly with the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who recently opened the extension to Portlaoise’s Emergency Department (ED)and assured all of the future development of the hospital. She also promised a 48-bed wing during her visit.

Dep Fleming called into question the HSE’s stance on surgery after the health authority issued a statement arising from claims made by a former Fianna Fáil local election candidate in Portlaoise Naeem Iqbal.

“The HSE Dublin and Midlands Region is committed to the continued development of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise as a key hospital serving the people of Laois and the wider Midlands.

“With County Laois and the surrounding area experiencing significant population growth, there is a clear need to ensure that local hospital services continue to develop in line with the needs of the communities they serve. The future development of surgical services at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is an important part of this work.

“The HSE’s objective is to build a strong, sustainable and increasingly comprehensive surgical service at Portlaoise. This will be achieved through a phased and clinically led approach, ensuring that the necessary skills, experience, staffing and infrastructure are in place to support the safe delivery of increasingly complex surgical care closer to home.

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“As part of this approach, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is working closely with clinicians and colleagues across the Dublin and Midlands Region, including Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. In the interim, complex elective surgical activity will be undertaken in partnership with Tullamore to support the continued development of the Portlaoise surgical team. This collaborative approach will enable surgeons to build their experience and capability while supporting the planned development of surgical services in Portlaoise.

“The HSE Dublin and Midlands Region is committed to a positive future for Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and to ensuring that its services continue to evolve to meet the needs of one of Ireland’s fastest-growing populations,” said te HSE said.

The Leinster Express asked the HSE to give examples of those complex surgeries, and if the hospital is currently not capable of such surgeries, and if so, is the HSE recruiting surgical staff and planning to develop the surgical infrastructure in Portlaoise.

Mr Iqbal claims that permanent surgical staff are not being recruited, with a reliance on short-term contract staff.

“I am deeply concerned by recent developments regarding surgical services at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

“Over the past few weeks, questions have arisen about the future of the Surgical Department, including reports that permanent surgical staff are not being recruited while existing staff are increasingly being assigned to work in Tullamore. MORE BELOW PHOTO

“The HSE must provide clear answers. Why are permanent surgical staff not being appointed in Portlaoise? Why are Portlaoise staff being deployed to Tullamore? Is there any plan to reduce or relocate surgical services from Portlaoise? What assurances can the HSE give that Portlaoise Hospital's core services will be protected?

“The people of Laois deserve transparency. Any changes to hospital services must be communicated openly and not through gradual or unexplained decisions. I call on the HSE to clarify its plans and reassure the public about the future of Portlaoise Hospital,” Naeem Iqbal said.

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Independent Laois TD Brian Stanley says “Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Ministers must ensure surgical services at Portlaoise hospital are protected”.

“There is an onus on Government Ministers now to ensure that services are protected at Portlaoise Hospital in the light of a statement that's been released by the HSE this week. This has added some confusion to the situation, and clarification is required on the future of surgical services in Portlaoise.

“Workload at the hospital continues to increase due to increase in population in the county. It is essential that the HSE and Government provide clarity on this matter.

“I am now calling in particular on the two Fianna Fail Ministers for State at the Department for Health, Mary Butler and Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, the latter who actually resides in Co. Laois to protect surgical services.

“I am also writing to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill in relation to this matter.

“Laois people will not tolerate any reduction in services in Portlaoise Hospital,” dep Stanley said.

It is now a decade since Portlaoise hospital was earmarked for downgrade by the HSE, who planned to remove surgery, paediatrics, maternity and the ED. The people of Laois responded with a huge street rally in Portlaoise led by Laois politicians and a campaign by an action committee. The decision was later shelved and MRH Portlaoise remains a Model 3 acute hospital.