'If I had to go to Tullamore A&E I would be dead' says young Laois man

A 24-year-old man attended last week's public meeting to save Portlaoise hospital because he said if it wasn't for Portlaoise A&E he would be dead.

A leaked report from the Midlands HSE region proposes the downgrading of Portlaoise Hospital, resulting in the loss of its A&E department.

SEE ALSO: Thousands of patients to converge on Tullamore if A&E services scrapped at Portlaoise

Joe Rossa from Portlaoise said that he could not have travelled any further for emergency services and added that young people who do not drive will suffer if Portlaoise Emergency Department closes.

“This time last year at about 4am a massive cyst formed on my neck, about the size of a tennis ball and I could barely breathe.

“We don’t have a car - luckily enough my girlfriend's parents live in the town and they were awake. If I had to go to Tullamore, I would be dead.

“If anyone has any questions about what will happen if the A&E is shut down; people will die. I wouldn’t be here, my friends wouldn’t be here, that is the reality. Everyone knows someone who has been in an emergency situation and you can’t wait for over an hour to get to Tullamore or Tallaght - it is a matter of minutes," he concluded.