Clarity sought on proposed health facility

A Fianna Fáil councillor has pledged to request a comprehensive progress report concerning the proposed development of a new primary health centre in Gort.

Councillor Mary Hoade wants to get the Health Service Executive to clarify the exact status of the Gort primary health care centre, following a recent pledge by Health Minister James Reilly that it would be completed by 2016.

Galway primary continuing and community care area manager, Catherine Cunningham, told a recent HSE West Forum meeting that Gort, Headford, Oranmore, Castlegar, Athenry, Portumna and Mountbellew were among the 14 sites advertised for development under the National Infrastructure Leasing Project in 2007.

“In some cases, the projects are complete or nearing completion. In other cases, they have not been progressed to date, owing variously to no expressions of interest being received, expressions of interest being received but not meeting all of the eligibility criteria and letters of intent being withdrawn because the developer was unable to commence the project within the agreed timeframe,” she said.

She pledged that full details would be provided in relation to each site listed at a later date.

Councillor Hoade hopes HSE officials will be able to provide more information about the progression of the Gort centre at the next HSE West Forum meeting.

The Gort centre has already been included  in The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s infrastructure stimulus public-private partnership programme worth €1.4 billion.

Labour Senator Lorraine Higgins recently asked the health minister the timeframe in which the primary medical care centres at Gort and Tuam will be progressed.

In a written reply, the minister explained Gort and Tuam are two of the 35 potential locations for primary care centres for development by way of public-private partnership, as announced in the July 2012 Infrastructure Stimulus Package.

“Of the 35, approximately 20 will be offered to the market, subject to agreement between the local GPs and the HSE on active local GP involvement in the centres and site suitability and availability,” said the minister.

“The HSE is currently analysing the available sites in each location and engaging with the GPs in each location to determine their interest in participating in the primary care centre development.

“While it is not possible, at this time, to give start and completion dates for any of the individual 20 potential locations, the best estimate is that these primary care centres will be completed by late 2016,” he added.