Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
9. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any analysis or action plan currently being considered in terms of additional healthcare capacity in the midlands, in particular elective care capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17322/26]
View answerThis morning I would like to ask for an update for a position regarding any analysis or action plan currently being considered in terms of additional healthcare capacity in Offaly and the midlands, particularly in relation to elective care capacity.
I thank the Deputy. I am fully committed to ensuring sufficient health care capacity across every part of Ireland. I compliment the work done in the midlands between the triangle of hospitals between Mullingar, Portlaoise and Tullamore, which are all performing at an exceedingly high standard in relation to all aspects of care, both emergency and scheduled. However, we need further development of the elective care capacity in the midlands. The HSE capital plan sets out a range of investments for the midlands, including the recently completed two-storey emergency department in Portlaoise, the reconfiguration of the renal department to provide additional dialysis treatment space and 2 additional neutral pressure isolation rooms in Tullamore Regional Hospital and progressing the appraisal for the replacement ward accommodation, theatre department and emergency department for projects for Regional Hospital Mullingar.
Alongside this excellent progress and the continued strong work by each of the hospitals, there is need for more capacity in terms of elective work. I do believe that this triangle of hospitals, working together, can offer a situation of exceptionally good elective work. Specifically on that, the HSE Dublin and midlands health region has confirmed that it is undertaking an analysis to inform the future development of an action plan. This early scoping phase is intended to consider potential options for new or additional capacity, including in the area of elective care. An expressions of interest process forms part of this broader review. Work to define scope, parameters and governance arrangements is ongoing. The process is expected to be completed by the end of this quarter. I am assured that the region will provide updates as this work develops.
The implementation of health infrastructure investment policy via the strategic healthcare investment framework means that any future proposal for new infrastructure will be centred on evidence-based demand analysis and established on a need identified by services.
I thank the Minister. It is welcome news that we are looking at new elective capacity in the midlands. It is something I have raised here in the past in this Chamber. We have a situation where patients and carers are travelling to every corner of the country rather than the midlands for that surgery and medical care. It will assist in relation to providing better care and local care but also with congestion, not just on roads but in facilities in the likes of Dublin, where patients have had to come for so long. That will take a demand pressure away from those hospitals by bringing a new facility, new capacity and a new modern facility to the midlands.
From my perspective, Tullamore is best suited to provide that facility. The performance ratings of the emergency department in Tullamore in particular are outstanding. Patients are seldom left on trolleys, but that is coming at the cost of elective care. This measure is very much welcome.
I take this opportunity to compliment Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore and its excellent manager, Louisea Burke, on delivering consistently predictable urgent and emergency care. While it is not easy, they do it with an extraordinary focus on patient care. Mr. Bernard Gloster, CEO of the HSE, visited the hospital recently to compliment them in that regard. Often we attend hospitals where there is a problem but not often enough do we attend hospitals to compliment them on their excellent work. Tullamore hospital is deserving of that attention.
I met Tullamore hospital management reasonably recently, at the end of January at our regional forum, where I again took the opportunity to congratulate Louisea and all of the staff at Tullamore hospital for providing that extremely good, predictable and safe service to the people of the area. The hospital and the midlands need more elective capacity, however. Of course, because of the region it is in, it is within the south Dublin surgical hub, which is connected to St. James’s Hospital. That is a busy hub already and there is a need to reflect on the balance of that provided throughout the midlands. I acknowledge the Deputy’s advocacy on behalf of Tullamore. Indeed, I have visited it with him and seen the value of the space around Tullamore regional hospital. I know it well because of the Deputy.
I appreciate the Minister’s support in this regard. The objective is to get to a stage where there will be a call for expressions of interest and follow-through of this plan in order that surgical procedures will happen in Tullamore or elsewhere in the midlands. That is what we all have to aspire to.
I acknowledge the Minister’s recent visit to the midlands regarding ongoing facility works, such as the hospice in Tullamore and the primary care centres in Tullamore and Banagher. Edenderry primary care centre is also in for planning permission at the moment. I recently visited Birr primary care centre, which the Minister visited when it was only a shell. It is now nearing completion. If the Minister has any update on the completion of those works and when GPs will move onto the site, it would be greatly appreciated.
I was just reflecting on how Birr primary care centre has evolved since we saw it last summer. I am looking forward to visiting it in quarter 3 of 2026 when it will be operational to see how magnificent it is. For anyone who has not seen it, it is absolutely huge. It will be an enormous addition to primary care for the people of Offaly generally. Of course, it will have extensive GP practices and a pharmacy. It will also provide space for a National Ambulance Service base. It is extraordinary and it will add enormously. Indeed, I hope it will take some pressure off the hospital as well.
It is true that more elective capacity is necessary. While we are not considering a surgical hub model as such – we have enough work to do to get Sligo and Letterkenny ahead – that does not mean there are not different ways of achieving additional elective capacity. When I say we are open to suggestion in this regard, we really are. That is why we have insisted on this expression of interest process to determine what more can be done to deliver that elective capacity in an even stronger way, recognising the already excellent work done by the triangle of good hospitals.
