HSE clarifies parent’s health check confusion

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that the Westbury Primary Care Centre is open to babies born in the area. It was responding to a request to clarify whether or not young children from Westbury and Shannon Banks attending national school in Limerick City would receive development checks in the new facility.

Children from Westbury, Shannon Banks and parts of South-East Clare, who attended Scoil Íde in Corbally, Limerick, previously had to travel across the city to Roxtown for eye, ear tests and dental check-ups and in some cases to Shannon Health Centre.
Westbury resident Mary Jane-Fallon had expressed concern about the criteria being used for children who can access the new medical centre in Westbury.
Ms Fallon claimed she was informed by a staff member that children from Shannon Banks and Westbury who attended Scoil Íde would not be entitled to obtain developmental checks in the new health facility.
Having waited for years for the new centre, she said it didn’t make any sense that children from South-East Clare were going to be excluded from attending a centre on their own doorstep.
She said some parents found it very difficult to take time off work and attend development checks in Roxtown, which could take over 20 minutes to reach, depending on traffic.
The Westbury Primary Care Centre was officially opened in December 2009 and provides a range of primary care services to the Westbury community.
Responding to Clare Champion queries, the HSE stated that access to the new Westbury Primary Care Centre was open to all members of the community, including all babies born in the area.
“Scoil Ide, although attended by children from the Westbury area, is located in Limerick. As such, the school health service to Scoil Ide is provided by the East Limerick school medical service that screens children on the school premises for vision and hearing. In the past where these children required follow-up it was provided in Roxtown Health Centre.
“Given the opening of Westbury Primary Care Centre and the HSE’s clear desire to make services as accessible as possible, changes are going to have to be made in how services are going to be provided. We are progressing these issues at present in partnership with the local GPs and the multi-disciplinary primary team located at the primary care centre,” said a HSE spokesman.