Minister opens primary care centre

MINISTER for Health Simon Harris unveiled a commemorative plaque last week to mark the official opening of the Grangegorman Primary Care Centre. 

The centre is designed to improve the provision of existing services previously delivered in older accommodation. 

It provides a variety of therapy and clinical spaces, community care and GP services to the Cabra East and Grangegorman communities.

The North Inner City CAMHS team are also located on site covering the catchment area of North Inner City, Drumcondra and Cabra.

Among the available services is a consultant led, multi-disciplinary child and adolescent mental health service that provides assessment and treatment to young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties.

The National Audiology Hearing Aid Repair Service is now also located in Grangegorman, with access to adult and paediatric soundproof booths.

Ophthalmology services will be provided from the centre too, serving the wider North Dublin area.

Construction of the €15 million development commenced in March 2015.

Work required the refurbishment of the former laundry building for St Brendan’s Hospital, which is a protected structure.

A new block is linked to the building by a glazed entrance link, providing a total gross floor area of approximately 3,700 sq mts.

There are over 95 staff based in the centre with additional visiting staff also delivering services on site from bookable clinic rooms.

The Mountjoy Street Family Practice GPs, under Dr Austin O’Carroll, has moved into Grangegorman Primary Care Centre as well. 

Minister for Health Simon Harris described it as “a pleasure” to be in Grangegorman to officially open the new centre.

“Primary care is at the heart of what we do in the Health Service,” he said.

“Making the shift towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country is paramount.

“This new facility will provide a wonderful, modern service to the local community.’

Minister for Finance and local TD for Dublin Central, Paschal Donohoe, said he was delighted to be at the opening ceremony.

“The provision of community care at this location, including audiology, ophthalmology, social inclusion and addiction, as well GP services, is having a significant impact on the people of Grangegorman, Cabra and the surrounding area and, importantly, is allowing people to be have their medical needs met closer to home,” he said.

Minister Donohoe said new funding under Project Ireland 2040 is being made available for more primary care centres.

HSE Chief Officer for Dublin North City and County (DNCC), Mary Walsh, said her team passionately believe in the potential of primary and community based health services to improve healthcare and ease pressure on hospitals.

“This is the latest of our primary care centres to be developed,” she added.

“DNCC has recently seen the delivery of a number of new Primary Care Centres including Portmarnock, Balbriggan, Corduff and Coolock.

“Summerhill Primary Care Centre is due to be completed later this year and is another of the 14 centres being delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism.

“I look forward to the continuous expansion of our network of primary care centres in 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 GPs were pivotal to the delivery of primary care services in the community. 

“I am particularly pleased to have the Mountjoy Street Family Practice GPs based here, under the watchful eye of Dr Austin O’Carroll GP,” he added.

“Having GPs on site with the Primary Care, Audiology, Ophthalmology, Social Inclusion and CAMHS facilitates a more cohesive way of working among health care professionals leading to more integrated care for service users. 

“A collaborative team approach is especially invaluable in the care of complex cases where the input of a number of team members is required.”

The project was delivered for the HSE by the Grangegorman Development Agency, the statutory body responsible for the development of all facilities on the Grangegorman site.