Local GPs are to “plead the case” on behalf of the Portlaoise hospital, when they meet Minister for Health Simon Harris this evening.
The delegation will make the case for the building up of services in the hospital rather than their downgrade.
Local GP Dr Sean Montague from Kilnacourt Surgery in Portarlington said there is no capacity in nearby hospitals to take an overspill from Portlaoise.
Speaking on Midlands 103 today he said they will impress on the Minister their concerns, and the concerns of their patients.
“No-one knows outside a small collection of people within the HSE what the actual plan for the hospital is,” he said.
“No-one knows what the Minister is going to do. I think it certainly is worthwhile to meet the minister to put our concerns and the concerns of our patients and the concerns of our colleagues to him – to try and plead the case, really,” Dr Montague said.
The meeting had been expected to be held on Wednesday but is now due to take place this evening at 6 pm at Government Buildings in Dublin.
Laois GPs, along with hospital consultants, have formulated a detailed plan which they believe can secure the future of the hospital’s services for Laois.
Local GPs recently rejected a proposed meeting with Dr Susan O’Reilly, chief executive of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, which includes Portlaoise hospital.
Instead they opted to take up an offer of a meeting extended to them by Minister Harris when he visited the hospital a number of months ago.
Speculation
The hospital in Portlaoise has been the subject of much speculation on its future since a breast cancer misdiagnosis scandal and then a number of infant deaths during childbirth at the maternity unit there.
Speculation has centred on the removal of 24 hour cover at the Emergency Department with concerns continually voiced over a possible downgrade of the hospital.
SEE ALSO – Local GPs to meet Health Minister on future of hospital
