The Minister for Health has been called on to publish the report on the future services at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.
Cllr Jerry Lodge had a motion before the monthly meeting of Laois County Council stating that the council believes Minister for Health Simon Harris has adequate time “to peruse the Susan O’Reilly report on future services” at the hospital and “now calls on him to publish this report”.
“We met with the minister (Harris) and he said the report was on his desk but he hadn’t read it fully. There is a saying, justice delayed is justice denied, I don’t see why anyone in the department should be denying this. Ultimately, this report has to come out,” he said.
The hospital action committee has not been as active since the death of the late Kathleen O’Brien, Cllr Lodge said.
“We should request another meeting with the minister (Harris) and also request Minister Charlie Flanagan to attend,” Cllr Lodge said.
Stressing the importance of timing, he said if there was another general election, then Laois may not have a government minister.
He said the hospital was previously designated a grade 3 hospital by former Minister for Health James Reilly.
“We need to keep the pressure on,” he said.
“It seems to be be a long time for them not to come back to us with the report,” Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said.
“For a recruitment point of view,” Cllr Willie Aird said, “people are looking at the situation and thinking this is in limbo”.
Cllr Tom Mulhall did arrange the meeting 9 months ago. “I know Minister Harris did take our views on board and I recall that he did say he would meet us again,” he said.
“Maybe we could arrange another meeting before the end of the year,” Cllr Mulhall said. “Maybe we could go through Minister Flanagan again”.
“This is going on for four years,” said Cllr Aidan Mullins.
Political football
“It is a political football and we are not going to get any answers this side of a general election,” he said.
He said sending a letter on the issue to the minister would not make any difference. “It’s only a waste of time,” he said.
The meeting with Minister Harris had been encouraging, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said. “We need to look to meet him again,” she said.
“I’ve been told that Dr Susan O’Reilly is retiring within the year. The sooner she retires, the better,” she said.
The late Kathleen O’Brien had been the driving force behind the hospital action committee, Cllr Noel Tuohy said. He said he believed Minister Flanagan and Deputies Sean Fleming and Brian Stanley can save the hospital.
Another meeting would be useful, Cllr Mary Sweeney said, as it is vital to save the hospital for Laois, Offaly and beyond.
Cllr John King said he would raise the matter at the next Regional Health Forum.
A letter on the matter is to be sent to the minister, and also the three Laois TDs.
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: Supporters at the Laois Hurling County Finals
