Births rise at Portlaoise hospital in 2025

The number of babies born in Portlaoise hospital rose slightly beyond the 1,400 mark, according to the latest figures from the HSE.

Figures provided by the HSE to the Leinster Express / Laois Live reveal a 2.5% rise in the number of deliveries at the Laois hospital by December 30 2025. 

"There were a total of 1,405 births in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRPH) in 2025, up from 1370 births in 2024," said the HSE.

The busiest year for births in Portlaoise in recent times was during the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 1,541 babies were born at the Laois hospital in 2021. This fell back to 1,364 in 2022 and 1402 in 2023. 

The HSE has not yet published the Maternity Safety Statements for November and December for the hospital, which is part of a maternity unit network with the Coombe Hospital in Dublin. 

The October Maternity Safety Statement showed that nearly 40% of deliveries had been via Caesarean section year to date. A little more than four in ten first-time mothers delivered by C-section to the end of October.

Just over 37% of mothers were induced, with over 46% of first-time mums being induced in the months to the end of October. 

The first baby of the New Year born in Laois was Anwen Davies, born at 5:37 a.m. on January 1, weighing 3.6 kg. She is the third child of parents Agata, from Poland, and Gareth Davies, from Wales, who live in Ballytore, Co Kildare. They already have two boys, Stefan and Eoghan.  

There were seven babies delivered by staff at the Maternity Unit in the MRHP. 

Portlaoise hospital provides acute-care hospital services including 24-hour Emergency Department service (ED) and a range of inpatient and outpatient general medical, surgical, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatric services. It serves a population within the counties of Laois, Kildare, Carlow, Offaly and North Tipperary.

READ ALSO: 'Beautiful' baby Anwen is first arrival of New Year in Laois at Portlaoise hospital

MORE BELOW PHOTO

Pictured Agata Davies celebrates the arrival of her baby girl Anwen with Eileen Burke, Hospital Manager, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. Pics: HSE

The hospital is a Model 3 hospital and is currently part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. The HSE announced in 2017 a detailed plan to downgrade the facility, which would have seen the maternity unit closed. This was the result of a major controversy which engulfed the hospital's maternity unit in 2014.

READ ALSO: Laois hospital's new unit opens for flu fight 

The controversy led to the partnership with the Coombe, which has become permanent. The downgrade was not implemented. The Government opted to reform and invest. Part of the investment involves an expansion of the ED to enhance respiratory and paediatric care in Portlaoise. This became operational at the end of 2025.