Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise

{{Infobox hospital

| Name = Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise

| Org/Group = Health Service Executive

| Image = Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.JPG

| Caption = Midland Regional Hospital

| Logo =

| Location = Portlaoise

| Region = County Laois

| State =

| Country = Ireland

| HealthCare = HSE

| Type = Regional

| Speciality =

| Emergency = Yes

| Affiliation=

| Beds = 200

| Founded = 1936

| Closed =

| Website = {{URL|https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospitals/midland-regional-hospital-portlaoise/}}

| Wiki-Links =

| map_type = Ireland

| map_caption=Shown in Ireland

| coordinates={{coord|53.0377|-7.2758|display=inline,title}}

|}}

The Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise ({{langx|ga|Ospidéal Réigiúnach Lár Tíre, Port Laoise}}) is a public hospital located in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland. It is managed by Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.{{cite web|url=https://www.imt.ie/news/six-hospital-groups-most-fundamental-reform-in-decades-14-05-2013/|title=Six hospital groups 'most fundamental reform in decades'|date=14 May 2013|publisher=Irish Medical Times|accessdate=27 May 2019}}

History

The hospital, which replaced Laois County Infirmary, was designed by Drogheda born Irish architect Michael Scott, and was built between 1933 and 1936.{{cite web|url=http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=LA®no=12508013|title=Portlaoise General Hospital, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, County Laois|publisher=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage|accessdate=20 May 2019 }}

On 5 March 2008, reports were published regarding the breast cancer misdiagnosis scandal at the hospital. A very high misdiagnosis rate was found to have occurred between 2003 and 2007.{{cite news |last1=Shanahan |first1=Catherine |title=Rate of misdiagnosis significant, says author |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/health/rate-of-misdiagnosis-significant-says-author-57155.html |accessdate=10 June 2020 |work=Irish Examiner |date=7 March 2008 |language=en}}

On 30 January 2014, the RTÉ Investigations Unit broadcast a Prime Time programme about the tragic deaths of newborn babies in Portlaoise Hospital and the subsequent management of patients and their families by the hospital and the HSE. A statutory investigation was launched and it found that 8 babies had died due a lack of know-how and a lack of resources at the hospital.{{cite news |last1=Hosford |first1=Paul |title="To err is human, to cover up is inexcusable" - eight babies died at Portlaoise Hospital |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/portlaoise-hospital-report-hiqa-2092037-May2015/ |accessdate=10 June 2020 |work=TheJournal.ie |date=9 May 2015 |language=en}}

In October 2017, it was reported that the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group was considering removing the accident & emergency service from the hospital.{{cite web|url=https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/news/277713/breaking-plan-to-cut-a-e-from-portlaoise-hospital-could-have-a-huge-impact-on-tullamore-hospital.html|title=plan to cut A&E from Portlaoise Hospital could have a huge impact on Tullamore Hospital|publisher=Offaly Express|date=21 October 2017|accessdate=20 May 2019}}

Services

The hospital provides 200 beds, of which 140 are in-patient acute beds, while 10 are reserved for acute day cases.{{cite web |url=http://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/FactFile/County_Information/Laois/Midland%20Regional%20Hospital%20Portlaoise/Midland_Regional_Hospital_Portlaoise.html |title=Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise |accessdate=2010-07-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014093851/http://hse.ie/eng/staff/FactFile/County_Information/Laois/Midland%20Regional%20Hospital%20Portlaoise/Midland_Regional_Hospital_Portlaoise.html |archivedate=2010-10-14 }}