Only one out of promised 35 primary care centres has opened
JUST one of the 35 primary care centres pledged by former health minister James Reilly five years ago is operational, it emerged yesterday.
The only centre which is open for business is in Kells, Co Meath, according to details obtained by Fianna Fáil spokesman on health Billy Kelleher.
“Indeed, that was up and running when I sought information on the projects this time last year,” he said.
Even the controversial primary care centre in Balbriggan, in Mr Reilly’s constituency, has still not opened its doors. Mr Reilly came under fire in 2012 after the Balbriggan centre appeared on a short-list of priority primary care centres.
It was later removed from that list and proceeded separately from that process under what is called a ‘direct lease’ arrangement. In this arrangement, the developer secures the building and GP co-operation for the centre and then invites the HSE to lease the building and provide other healthcare professionals to staff it.
“Last year, I was also told that Balbriggan – the choice of which generated such controversy in 2012 – would be up and running in the first quarter of this year. However, construction was only completed in the second quarter of the year and it is yet to open. Hopefully it will be operational before the end of this quarter,” Mr Kelleher said.
“As for Swords, five years on, expressions of interest have been received and are ‘currently being reviewed’.
“The Department of Health is now projecting that some 16 of the projects will become operational over the next 18 months.
“While a degree of scepticism has to be maintained over such projections, it is critical that these centres are actually delivered.
“Fianna Fáil believes that primary and community care must form the bedrock of our health system.
“Robust and active primary and community care is seen as playing an essential role in enhancing health outcomes and limiting costs. The pace of delivery is disappointing,” he added.