New unit to increase Portlaoise hospital services for Laois people

Laois people with eye problems who need medical attention will be able to get care in Portlaoise hospital under changes coming down the track from the HSE. 

Laois Offaly Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has welcomed the confirmation that specialists Eye Services will be transferred back to the county. 

“Following my most recent engagement with the Minister for Health (Stephen Donnelly) on this matter, I have received confirmation that the Outreach Eye Clinic will now be provided in Portlaoise hospital and that a location has been identified in Portlaoise for transferring full Ophthalmology Services (Eye) back to the county. Funding has also been approved for a Consultant Ophthalmologist post, he said.

Dep Stanley said the HSE has confirmed that a location has been identified in Portlaoise, with planning and associated works expected to be completed late 2024/early 2025. The HSE has told him that work is ongoing to operationalise the service to cater for patients in the Midlands region. MORE BELOW PICTURE

Picture credit Pixabay

“This is a welcome development. A number of constituents contacted me on an ongoing basis about the distance they have to travel to Athlone since the services were relocated there. This caused the most severe problem for residents in the south and east of the county, such as Errill, Rathdowney, Crettyard and Graiguecullen. In the absence of Public Transport, attending the clinic is very difficult.

“I have raised this on a regular basis with the HSE management and the Minister. It is important that the full services now be reinstated in Laois as soon as possible," he said.

Extensive construction work is ongoing on building a new respiratory unit and upgrading the paediatric department hospital.