Health services to remain in Tinahely

A BREAKDOWN of how the provision of health services will be distributed between Tinahely Health Cente and Carnew Primary Care Centre has been provided the HSE.

This comes in the wake of concerns raised by patients living around Tinahely, and down to the Carlow border, that services might be moved further away from them, and consequently be more difficult to access.

However, a spokesperson for the Primary Care department has clarified the plans for nursing, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, community mental health and home help services for the two areas.

With regard to public health nursing, it was outlined that currently, nursing is the only discipline based in Tinahely Health Centre on a full time basis.

‘ The nursing service will continue to be available in Tinahely Health Centre twice a week for dressings and to deal with any drop in queries. Domiciliary visits in the Tinahely area will continue as normal,’ said the spokesperson.

Speech and language therapy (SLT) will continue on a weekly basis in Tinahely.

‘ The SLT team will now be able to accommodate Carnew patients who currently travel to Tinahely for services, closer to home. The facilities at Carnew Primary Care Centre will enable the team to deliver group sessions, which is currently not possible at Tinahely Health Centre,’ the HSE outlined. An occupational therapist will attend the two centres based on patient need.

However, the HSE outlined that Carnew Primary Care Centre now has a purpose built Occupational Therapy Assessment and Treatment Room, which will allow for an enhancement of this service.

The community mental health service will continue to be available at Tinahely Health Centre on a fortnightly basis and will also visit Carnew Primary Care Centre fortnightly.

The HSE spokesperson also confirmed that Home Help services will continue to visit Tinahely Health Centre.