MINISTER FOR HEALTH SIMON HARRIS UPDATES ON WHY PROMISED CONSULTATION HAS NOT BEGUN.
The Minister for Health has claimed he is still trying to work out ‘a mechanism’ to gather views from the public, doctors, nurses and others on the future of Portlaoise hospital.
Minister Simon Harris updated Laois TD Brian Stanley on the issue in the Dáil this week. He asked the Minister when the consultation process on the future of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise involving local clinicians and the community will begin and the expected timeframe for completion.
A HSEÂ Dublin Midlands Hospital Group plan is with the Minister. A final version of the plan proposes extensive downgrade of the Laois hospital with services relocated elsewhere.
Last December, Minister Harris promised consultation on this instead of agreeing to implementation.
“I understand Deputy Stanley’s desire, and that of the people in the midlands, for a decision to be made on the consultation as quickly as possible. I want to deliver it as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of getting it wrong. I want to make sure, one can have consultation and one can have real, meaningful consultation and engagement.
“I am trying to work out a mechanism whereby the people of the midlands, the people of Portlaoise, the clinicians, the stakeholders and the public can have their say and their views heard and can tease out and stress-test all the important issues,” he said.
“The Taoiseach is correct,” replied Minister Harris. “If I believed that the draft plan and the consultation had been appropriate then we surely would not be in this place. I do not believe the consultation was adequate and I do not believe there was appropriate engagement.
“The reason I do not believe it is because the people of Portlaoise are telling me this very clearly. Deputy Stanley, Deputy Sean Fleming and the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, are also telling me this. The Laois Oireachtas Members, on a cross-party basis, have told me this very clearly,” he said.
Article originally appeared on Leinster Express
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