Varadkar: Portlaoise emergency department may be reduced - but not yet

The Health Minister said a plan must be put in place before hours at the ED at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise can be reduced.

It was announced yesterday that all complex surgery is being transferred away from the hospital, following criticism by the health watchdog.

The emergency department at the hospital may also be reduced from 24 hours to 12. However, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said a definite decision has not yet been made.

"It may happen in the medium to long term," he said, "but the key thing is before it's done, the HSE and the hospital group need to put in a plan.

"You can't just add those 10 or 15 patients to the queue in Naas or in Tullamore or in Tallaght, which are hospitals that are very much under pressure and have their own problems."

"What you need is a clear plan as to how you deal with those cases … first, and that's not yet in place."