Minister for Health Simon Harris TD today (Monday) officially opened two new primary care centres in Kilcock, Kildare and Coolock on the northside of Dublin.
Minister Harris said, “These two new centres are the latest in a planned national network of primary care centres, which are being developed to provide a broad range of health services to local communities. 114 Primary Care Centres are now operational across the country. 6 have opened so far this year (Ballinrobe, Boyle, Limerick City, Kilcock, Claremorris and Grangegorman) and a further 13 are scheduled to open in 2018.
“Kilcock and Coolock are part of the first public private partnership programme in the Health services, which will see a total of 14 purpose-built centres delivered across the country by the end of this year. The centres will also offer a range of primary care services including GP and Nurse services, Home Help, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Psychology.
“Investment in Primary Care is key to building a better health service. We need to ensure that more people are treated close to home, in the communities where they live. That is why Project Ireland 2040, our capital spending plan for the next 10 years, provides €810 million to construct additional primary care facilities, including community diagnostics. Significant investment in primary care is a key component of our solid, ambitious plan to build a better health service for the future. This must be done through the combination of this significant capital investment programme, alongside the implementation of the Sláintecare reforms, and engagement with GPs on the unwinding of FEMPI and a new GP contract.
“The primary care funding provided in Ireland 2040 will be in addition to funding to continue the existing Primary Care Centre construction programme across the country, including the Public Private Partnership programme.
“This Government is committed to enhancing and expanding capacity in the primary care sector. A very important part of this is the provision of well-equipped modern Primary Care Centres, which allow our Primary Care Teams and GPs to be located together, allowing the delivery of a wider a range of services. These services will help to keep people well and have the added benefit of potentially preventing the development of conditions which might later require hospitalisation. I look forward to seeing more primary care centres open for business in the months ahead.”
Notes to Editors
Primary Care Centres
· 114 PCCs are operational
· 31 locations are under construction (inc. equipping) or development, at advance planning or are underway for design/planning purposes
· 44 are at an early planning stage
· In addition to the 6 already opened in 2018 (Ballinrobe*, Boyle*, Limerick City - Ballinacurra/Weston*, Kilcock*#, Claremorris* (i), and Grangegorman#) one other PCC is imminently scheduled to open (East Sligo – Ballymote*).
· A further 12 PCCs are scheduled to open in 2018
· Another 1 PCC is expected to open in 2019.
* Delivered via the PPP method
# Partially operational, with the remainder of services imminently scheduled to move in
(i)Operational 26th February
Coolock Primary Care Centre (PCC)
· The Centre, which will house up to 120 core staff with a further 30 staff operating support services as a network resource from the centre.
· 4 GP practices (with 7 GPs) will relocate to the centre and it accommodate two Primary Care Teams (PCTs):
· A number of Primary Care Services will operate from the centre including: Public Health Nursing, including specialist wound treatment room, Speech and Language Therapy Services, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Primary Care Social Work, Dental Services (for the North Dublin Network; pop. 32,786), Early Intervention Services, Mental Health day hospital, Dietetics, Psychology and Podiatry
· The centre will provide specialist Network Children’s Services for Coolock and the wider Dublin 17 and Dublin 5 area. These are the Early Intervention Team, Dental Services and will be a hub for Primary Care Children's Services in the area.
· Mental Health Services will include community Mental Health Team services and Day Hospital services.
· The Podiatry Clinical Care Programme is a new initiative which will operate from the centre.
Kilcock Primary Care Centre (PCC)
· The centre, which serves a local population of 8,500, became operational on at the end of January, with services moving in on a phased basis.
· The building will accommodate 24 staff and is designed to cater for people of all ages with a variety of access needs.