Primary care centre opens in north inner city

LOCALS in the north inner city have received a boost following the opening of the Summerhill Primary Care Centre (PCC) as part of Project Ireland 2040. 

A progress report on the rollout of Primary Care Centres nationwide was also published.

Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, jointly opened the new facility.

Speaking at the event, Minister Harris said: "The opening of Summerhill Primary Care Centre, the largest one in Ireland, demonstrates that the move toward primary and community care envisioned by Sláintecare is becoming a reality.  

“Our core objective is to shift the majority of care to the community setting, and this will help us reduce waiting lists and waiting times and ultimately meet our goal of improving population health.

"Primary Care Centres have a key role to play in delivering on our vision of a reformed health service and are designed to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

Minister Donohoe said: “The provision of community care at this location, including dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and social work services, is having a significant impact on the people of Summerhill and the surrounding area, because people are able to have their healthcare needs met closer to home.” 

Minister Donohoe said the Government is committed to continued investment in the development of primary care infrastructure across the country, with further centres either being developed or in planning stages. 

“This is guided by a recognition that the best health outcomes can be achieved by reorienting our health services towards primary and community care settings where people’s needs can, for the most part, be met locally, with high quality acute and emergency care provided in the appropriate acute hospital settings,” he added.