Centre officially opens  

SENATOR James Reilly unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of Balbriggan Primary Care Centre.  

The centre will comprise two primary care teams, the early intervention team services and children’s primary care services for Balbriggan and wider north county areas as well as dental services for the wider Balbriggan area network.

Senator Reilly said: “I am delighted that Balbriggan Primary Care Centre is up and running with 120-150 staff providing a range of services to Balbriggan including two GP practices with eight doctors and wonderful new mental health facilities available to the community.

“I want to commend everyone who made this excellent medical facility possible in Balbriggan, but in particular I want to commend the HSE team who delivered for Balbriggan.

“The population of Balbriggan has grown by 194 percent since 1991 to 25,000 and is projected to grow to 35,000. 

“There are 7,000 students in schools in Balbriggan; that student population alone is the equivalent population of many towns in Ireland.” 

Mary Walshe, HSE Chief Officer for Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) Dublin North City and County said the facility is fantastic for local residents.  

“We passionately believe in the potential of primary and community based health services to improve healthcare and ease pressure on our hospitals,” said Ms Walshe.

“CHO DNCC has recently seen the delivery of a number of new Primary Care Centres including Portmarnock, Coolock, Corduff, Grangegorman, Blanchardstown Primary Care Centre and the soon to be completed Summerhill Primary Care Centre.  

“I look forward to the continuous expansion of our network of primary care centres in CHO Dublin North City and County and the range of health services these centres can provide.”

Des O’Flynn, Head of Primary Care, CHO Dublin North City and County, said: “The aim of this Network Primary Care Centre is to provide the broadest range of health services to both the local community and the wider north county areas bearing in mind the population breakdown and the need to further develop local access to children’s services co-located in one site. 

“This development has been selected by the HSE to provide specialist network services for Balbriggan and the wider north county Dublin catchment areas of Rush, Lusk and Skerries, to include children’s services, early intervention team, dental services (five suites) and as a hub for Primary Care Children’s Services for the area.”