Plan for hospital ‘must’ go ahead

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has told Laois GPs the report on Portlaoise Hospital by the State’s health services watchdog must be fully implemented.

Doctors from the Laois faculty of the Irish College of General Practitioners and Laois Midoc have expressed “grave concern” at plans to downgrade services.

The Health Information and Quality Authority in a report published in May raised concerns about the safety of complex and emergency surgery at the hospital.