Laois hospital extension on home stretch in Portlaoise

Work on completing enhanced facilities for treating emergencies and children at Portlaoise hospital is on the home stretch with the removal of hoarding revealing the new multi-million euro wing to the Laois hospital.

The HSE has confirmed that construction workers and tradespeople at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise have moved into the final phase of work on the project, part of which was first promised early in the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The HSE expects the wing, which has cost over €16 million, to be in operation sometime this summer. A statement was issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. 

"Works on the extension of the adult and paediatric department at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is continuing as expected. Contractors are currently working on the external levels and surfaces, and great progress has been made on the internal finishings, fixtures and fittings. MORE BELOW PICTURE

Work is ongoing at the new two-storey unit. Pic: Leinster Express / Laois Live

"The contractors are working to hand over the build to MRHP in quarter two 2025 and the hospital will then require a period of time on internal fit-out before official opening," said the HSE.

The HSE has allocated €16.11 million to the development that has been built on a small plot that served as the former ED entrance. The project includes a ground-floor ED extension, including five new single treatment rooms, a resuscitation room, a family room and auxiliary facilities.

The construction work has also involved the addition of first floor ED extension, including treatment facilities for five paediatric patients, a resuscitation room, a triage room and auxiliary facilities.

Staff raised concerns about staffing the new wing at a protest outside the hospital in 2024 just before the General Election. The HSE said staff planning for the ED extension was "with management".

Expansion of the ED was first confirmed during the Covid-19 pandemic when the HSE committed to a new respiratory assessment unit attached to the ED. The HSE said early 2021 that construction would be completed by September that year and operational by December. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The new wing as pictured from the rear. Pic: Leinster Express / Laois Live

Former Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly visited Portlaoise hospital at the end of 2022 to officially confirm funding for the new additions.

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Work is also ongoing at the hospital beside the Department of Psychiatry. A new car park for staff has also been developed but the green light is needed from Laois County Council before a pedestrian crossing can be installed.

The HSE says Portlaoise hospital provides acute-care hospital services including 24-hour ED and a range of inpatient and outpatient general medical, surgical, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatric services. It serves Laois, Kildare, Carlow, Offaly and North Tipperary.

Public pressure forced the HSE to abandon 2017 plans to downgrade the hospital. Substantial investment has taken place since.