Wicklow People

Sod turned on Bray Primary Care Centre

- By MARY FOGARTY

The sod was turned last Friday morning on the new primary care centre in Bray.

Minister for Health Simon Harris did the honours at the landmark ceremony, which took place at the site of the former Orchard nursing home on the Killarney Road.

The site clearance works now are under way. Constructi­on work is due to start in August and is expected to be completed by late next year. The centre should be operationa­l by early 2020.

Bray Primary Care Centre will bring together a range of services that are currently provided across a number of different locations and include GP services, public health nursing, dental, dietetics, psychology, physiother­apy, occupation­al therapy, speech and language therapy and addiction services.

In addition, general community adult mental health services will be provided at the new centre. Services for older persons, including space for Bray Old Folks Associatio­n (which is currently using temporary a premises provided by Sunbeam House Services), will be provided from a new facility within the building.

‘Primary Care is at the heart of what we do in the health service,’ said Minister Harris on Friday.

‘Making the shift towards primary care, in order to deliver better care close to home in communitie­s across the country, is paramount. It remains a key priority for the Government, is one of the key features of Sláintecar­e and will be supported by the unpreceden­ted capital funding for the health service announced in the National Developmen­t Plan.

‘This new facility in Bray will provide a wonderful, modern day service to the local community and is one of five primary care centres being developed in Wicklow, which will greatly enhance services for the people of the county,’ said Minister Harris.

 ??  ?? LEFT: Minister Simon Harris with Eleanor Murphy from Meals on Wheels, Annette Hynes from Bray Old Folks Associatio­n (BOFA), Bríd Collins from Purple House, Marie Prunty from BOFA and Cllr Irene Winters.
LEFT: Minister Simon Harris with Eleanor Murphy from Meals on Wheels, Annette Hynes from Bray Old Folks Associatio­n (BOFA), Bríd Collins from Purple House, Marie Prunty from BOFA and Cllr Irene Winters.

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