All complex surgery is being transferred from the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise to two other hospitals, the HSE has confirmed.

Any complex surgery cases are to be dealt with at St James's Hospital in Dublin or the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

The HSE said the decision has been taken because the number of complex surgeries at the Portloaise hospital are too low to allow clinical staff to maintain the required expertise.

Meanwhile, Emergency Department (ED) hours are also expected to be reduced to a day-time only service of 8am to 8pm.

However, despite a recent damning report into maternity services at the hospital (see more here), these will remain in Portlaoise.

"There has been a substantial investment in maternity services. We are investing in and growing our services in Portlaoise," the head of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, Dr Susan O'Reilly, told RTÉ Radio.