Primary care centre boost for Northside

A NEW primary care centre has been approved for the Coolock/Darndale area, it has been confirmed.

Construction on the new facility will get underway next year, and it is expected to be operational in late 2016 or early 2017.

The new centre will be situated at the Health Centre on Cromcastle Road and will house GP and community nursing teams.

The services will include a GP Out-of-Hours’ service, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, speech and language therapy, home help, dental services, mental health services and child and adolescent mental health services

Dublin Bay North TD Sean Kenny (Lab) said he was very pleased to have received confirmation that the Coolock area is to have its own primary care centre.

“This is something that I have been pushing for over the last number of years, along with my Labour colleague and Minister for Primary Care, Kathleen Lynch,

? he said.

“The new centre will give people in Coolock, Belcamp, Darndale, Clonshaugh, Kilmore and Beaumont a first class healthcare centre based in the heart of their communities. I’m encouraged that it will be completed so soon.

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He added:

“Top quality health care in the community has been a priority for both myself as a TD and for the wider Labour Party in Government.

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Meanwhile, a new primary care centre has also been approved for Summerhill and will be situated at Mountain View Court.

Dublin Central TD Joe Costello (Lab) has welcomed the news.

“It means that local people will have a top-class, community-based healthcare service on their doorstep, and it is a further step towards delivering the right care in the right place at the right time,

? he said.

“The centre will be open at least five days a week with extra hours at weekends and evenings for some services. The HSE will manage the centre.

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Funding is being provided as part of an arrangement between the Government and the European Investment Bank (EIB). A total of 14 primary care centres across the country were given approval.