A TD based in north Laois and who also does significant work in the south Kildare area has labelled the idea of removing maternity services from Portlaoise Regional Hospital as a 'crackpot suggestion'.
Responding to the latest leak that the plan for Portlaoise Regional Hospital proposes to relocate its maternity services Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley said;
"I am very concerned about the latest leak regarding the future of the maternity services in Portlaoise Hospital. It has been indicated that the plan includes a proposal to pull the maternity services out of the hospital. If this were true it would be a crackpot suggestion as the hospital serves a huge catchment area of Laois/Offaly and South Kildare, delivering up to 2,000 babies a year."
"After many years of understaffing, the maternity unit has got extra staff and is operating to a high standard. The unit is one of the core services at Portlaoise Hospital. Why would you now pull it out?"
Deputy Stanley has stated that he has spoken to Minister Simon Harris in relation to the matter, and that his party awaits a response.
"I have asked the Minister for Health Simon Harris to clarify exactly what's going on. Sinn Féin will be resolute in our opposition to this," he said.
"I am again calling for Dr. Susan O' Reilly's report on the future of services at Portlaoise Hospital, that was to be out in September 2015 and is now 13 months late, to be published immediately."
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