KENNY WELCOMES €115 MILLION FUND FOR 20 PRIMARY CARE CENTRES

Posted on July 17, 2012 4:47 PM   |   Permanent Link   

The Dublin North East Labour Party TD and former Dublin City Councillor, Seán Kenny, has today welcomed the allocation of €115 million for Primary Care Centres..

"I am very pleased that despite the enormous economic difficulties faced by this government that funding has been allocated for two bundles of Primary Care Centres. These bundles will each comprise of up to 10 centres.

"The Labour Party has long advocated a shift towards primary care services as the fairest way of advancing efficient health care in this country. Our Minister for Primary Care, Roisin Shortall been doing stirling work in terms of making primary care a priority within the Department of Health even in the face of very tough economic conditions, and is ensuring that primary care is a key pillar of our approach to health. This focus on primary care will deliver health care at a local level while taking the pressure off the acute hospital sector.

"Up to 20 Primary Care Centres will be commissioned initially with a remainder considered for later phases of the PPP Programme with locations in Coolock and Darndale on the list."

"The Programme for Government committed to Primary Care Centres as an immediate priority area and is part of a wider commitment to focus on access to primary care. The development of primary care services is an essential component of the health service reform process. In a developed primary care system, up to 95% of people's day-to-day health and social care needs can be met in the primary care setting. Effectively they are a one-stop shop that will provide the first point of contact for the majority of the population in the years ahead."

"As a former member of the HSE Dublin North East Regional Health Forum I welcome the funding and am very much looking forward to working with my colleagues towards advancing a fair approach to our health services and overseeing the successful implementation of a primary care focused health system."