Primary care centre for Ennis?

A NEW primary healthcare centre could be on the way for Ennis as part of the Government’s infrastructure stimulus package of more than €1.4 billion announced this week.

On Tuesday, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, announced the Government’s plans for an additional €1.4bn domestic infrastructure stimulus to create jobs, with projects planned across the country.
A total of €115 million has been earmarked for two bundles of primary care centres, which will be progressed in phases. These bundles will each comprise up to 10 centres. The proposal will be delivered by means of the European Investment Bank and the public private partnership model.
Thirty-five locations were identified for primary care centres and Ennis is included in this grouping. Of these, 20 locations will be commissioned subject to agreement between local GPs and HSE on active local GP involvement in the centres.
The 20 successful projects will be offered to the market in bundles of 10, with the remainder being considered for later phases of the Public Private Partnership Programme.
However, Deputy Michael McNamara stated Minister Howlin has admitted funding would be allocated on a “first-come, first-served basis” once the agreement of GPs, private funding and planning permission is secured.
Asked if it is an efficient use of Government expenditure to invest public money in GP primary health care centres, Deputy McNamara pointed out there are different models of primary care in the county, including a public facility that operates out of Ennistymon Day Hospital.
The announcement has been welcomed by Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, who said, “The centre has the potential to become a significant provider of primary health needs. There would also be a benefit in terms of local employment during the construction phase of the centre.”
He added, “This is very positive news for Ennis and its environs. Primary health centres are the way of the future and patients will be able to attend and access a range of medical services. It would be expected that multidisciplinary primary care teams would be on hand to cater to the needs of patients. The centre will house GPs, public health nurses, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and speech therapists under one roof. This planned primary health centre will complement existing health services and offer more patient choice in the growing town of Ennis. I welcome the decision and I look forward to working with Government and local officials in seeing it through to completion.”
Fine Gael colleague and fellow Clare TD, Pat Breen, said the announcement is a “great boost” to the people of Clare.
“The new centre will make a real difference to the way in which the people of Clare access healthcare services in the community.
“Primary care centres, like the new one to be provided in Clare, will be the first point of contact for people who need to access health services in the years ahead. In a developed primary care system, as envisaged by the Government, up to 95% of people’s day-to-day health and social care needs can be provided in a community setting.
“The new centre will make a substantial difference to the lives of people in Clare. As well as treating illness, the centre in Ennis will help people to care for themselves, such as those with a long-term illness, and it will also help to prevent serious illness from occurring in the first place by providing easily accessible health services in the community.
He added, “A focus on primary care not only benefits patients, it will also benefit the taxpayer. By allowing patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, stroke and asthma, to be treated near or at their homes, we can save the health service millions of euro by preventing hospital stays. I look forward to the development of the new primary care centre in Ennis and to seeing the benefits it brings the local community.”
The stimulus package will involve raising €1.4bn for investment in public infrastructure projects in Ireland from the European Investment Bank, National Pensions Reserve Fund, domestic banks and other potential sources of funding.
A further €850m, funded from some of the proceeds of the sale of State assets and from the new licensing arrangement for the National Lottery, will be invested in supporting employment enhancing and commercial projects and augmenting existing Exchequer investment plans.