Sinn Fein TD for the South Kildare constituency Patricia Ryan has called on the Minister for Health to take ‘immediate action’ to address the vacancy crisis at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.
Following a recent Parliamentary Question by Deputy Ryan, it is now known that there are 20 Staff Midwife vacancies, and these positions have been vacant for periods of between 3 and 12 months.
There are a further 30 vacancies in various disciplines.
Patricia said: “I have written to the Minister for Health calling on him to take immediate action to resolve this crisis.
“I have expressed my concern at the level of vacancies at Portlaoise Hospital.
“I am particularly worried that there are 20 vacancies for staff midwives for periods of between 3 and 12 months.
“This must be having a huge effect on their ability to deliver a safe level of care to mothers and their babies.
“I have asked the Minister to address this situation immediately.
“Urgent action is needed if care is not to be compromised or worse, to prevent an error which may be catastrophic for those
involved.
“I have also asked the Minister to liaise with me as to how this issue can be swiftly resolved.
“We need to look at the reasons why these positions are vacant, and to work swiftly to address these issues.”
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