Laois Fine Gael councillor backs private hospital roadshow in Portlaoise

A Laois councillor is backing a roadshow in Portlaoise by private healthcare in Northern Ireland with a multi-million turnover to travel to the North for hospital care. 

Kingsbridge Private Hospital says it is visiting to Portlaoise on Thursday, February 6, to talk the public through their range of subsidised treatments and surgeries that are available at their facilities in Belfast and Derry.

The group, which works with the HSE, claims they are aware of high levels of appointment cancellations and long national waiting lists in Midlands hospitals. They say this has led patients to explore more options across the border in Northern Ireland.

The company said in a statement that Fine Gael representative Cllr Vivienne Phelan has teamed up with them for the Laois visit. She believes that it can allow local people take advantage of the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) operated by the HSE. It allows citizens of the Republic to claim back some of the cost of certain healthcare in Northern Ireland.

People who decide get treatment under this scheme must pay up front for any healthcare in the North but they can apply to the HSE for repayment of some of the costs under the NIPHS.

“The NNIPHS provides patients with the option to access treatments quicker, thereby improving comfort and quality of life," said Cllr Phelan who represents the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.

“I regularly hear from constituents who are facing long waiting times for various procedures; this event will hopefully raise awareness that there is an alternative to waiting available in many cases,” Cllr Phelan added. 

The cross-border healthcare drop-in roadshow will take place from 10am to 5pm in the Killeshin Hotel.

Mark Regan is the Chief Executive of Kingsbridge Healthcare Group which owns Kingsbridge Private Hospital.

“Health needs do not recognise any border.  Our singular aim is to build on the legacy we’ve established and serve the healthcare requirements of the population of Ireland, north and south,

“We pride ourselves on being able to bridge clinical excellence with medicine and hospitality to enhance our patients’ experience, and we believe we can make a real and lasting difference to the outcomes for many more patients on this island,” Mr Regan added. 

The Belfast Telegraph reported in late 2024 that turnover at at Kingsbridge rose by nearly one-third to £137.4m ahead of it securing a £300m investment in 2024.

Exponent, a leading European private equity firm, announced last July that it has reached an agreement to invest in Kingsbridge Healthcare Group. It’s understood it paid £300m for the stake.

Exponent said Kingsbridge has four hospitals and eleven medical centres across Belfast and Ballykelly in Northern Ireland and Sligo in the Republic.

Exponent said it has invested over €1 billion on the island of Ireland in the past decade..