Detox beds for drugs and alcohol 'urgently needed' at Portlaoise hospital

There has been calls for three new detoxification beds for drug and alcohol dependence at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

Cllr Marie Tuohy raised a motion at the November meeting of Laois County Council urging the council to call on the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to establish three medically supervised detoxification beds at the hospital with 7 day admission pathways and integrated links to HSE addiction services and community recovery supports.

Cllr Tuohy said that more and more people in Laois are presenting with serious drug and alcohol dependence, and these people need appropriate care.

The councillor said: "CADS (Community Alcohol and Drug Services) do great work but when someone is at high medical risk, such as those with a history of seizures, or unsafe environments to detox, they need hospital based, medically supervised care.

"Right now, Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise has no dedicated detoxification beds. This means people in real medical danger due to addiction are kept in either already overcrowded emergency departments or sent home to unsafe situations. None of these outcomes are acceptable."

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She emphasised that installing three detox beds in Portlaoise would be a simple and cost-effective measure to help tackle this issue, saying it "would transform care available to families in this county."

Cllr Tuohy explained: "These beds would allow safe, supervised withdrawal care for the most vulnerable patients. This would prevent repeat emergency admissions and enable direct links with CADS teams to ensure every patient receives proper follow-up and support.

"This is a small, practical, and cost-effective proposal. The infrastructure is already there, the clinical expertise exists, and the need is unquestionable. The ask is simple and clear, it's about giving people in our community a real chance at recovery."

The Addiction, Recovery and Community (ARC) Project, a voluntary and community led initiative in Portlaoise, has identified the "urgent need for these beds", according to Cllr Tuohy.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley supported the motion, saying "I don't know of a family in the community who's not affected in some way by the scourge of drugs and the drug epidemic." Cllr Dwane Stanley linked the issues with addiction to the lack of mental health services in the county which also must be addressed.

She argued that currently it is "practically impossible" to get people with addictions help in emergency situations.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme