A Laois TD has welcomed plans to develop Abbeyleix Hospital.
Sean Fleming has announced that the HSE is committed to a project being established within the next two months to develop a plan for the future services for Abbeyleix Hospital.
This group will have representatives of all stake holders which will obviously include the local committees supporting the hospital, he says.
The proposal will not just look at Abbeyleix in its own context but will look at the overall plan to meet the needs of the population of Co Laois.
He said: “The HSE has confirmed to me in writing that the long-term future of Abbeyleix hospital will continue as a community hospital.
“It will provide short stay beds for step up facilities by way of respite for people who are at home and need the assistance of the community hospital for a short period of time and then they can return home and get further respite care if the need arises.
“The HSE has also confirmed that Abbeyleix will be used as a step down facility for Portlaoise Acute Hospital.
“This will both help the overcrowding in Portlaoise and will also give patients a better service that they require in Abbeyleix Community Hospital.”
Deputy Fleming says he welcomes this statement by the HSE in recent days and looks forward to working with the new project group to ensure Abbeyleix is on a sound secure footing providing top class services for the population of Laois for generations to come.
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