Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD and the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, unveiled a commemorative plaque today (Wednesday) to mark the official opening of the new Grangegorman Primary Care Centre.
Grangegorman Primary Care Centre is one of a number of new Primary Care Centres launched by the HSE in recent months. This facility will enhance the provision of existing services previously delivered in older accommodation.
The Primary Care Centre 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 co-located on site and covers the catchment area of North Inner City, Drumcondra and Cabra. Child and Adolescent Mental Health is a Consultant Lead, multi-disciplinary service that provides assessment and treatment to young persons 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 sound proof booths. Ophthalmology services will be provided from the centre, serving the wider North Dublin area.
Construction of the €15 million development commenced in March 2015.
The development required the refurbishment of the former laundry building for St. Brendan’s Hospital, which was a protected structure. A new build block is linked to the protected structure by a glazed entrance link providing a total gross floor area of approximately 3,700m2.
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 GP’s, under Dr Austin O’Carroll have moved into Grangegorman Primary Care Centre.
Speaking at the opening of Grangegorman Primary Care Centre, Minister for Health Simon Harris TD said, ‘It is a pleasure to be in Grangegorman this morning to officially open the Primary Care Centre. Primary Care is at the heart of what we do in the Health Service. Making the shift towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country is paramount. It remains a key priority for the Government and is one of the key features of Sláintecare. This new facility will provide a wonderful, modern day service to the local community.’
Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, and local TD, Paschal Donohoe, said: ‘I am delighted to be here to mark the official opening of the Grangegorman Primary Care Centre (PCC). 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. 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. To that end new funding for PCCs has been made under Project Ireland 2040, which will provide the critical infrastructure needed to meet our growing demands’.
Mary Walshe, HSE Chief Officer for CHO Dublin North City and County added: ‘This wonderful centre will greatly enhance the delivery of health services provided to the local population of Grangegorman/Cabra East and the wider area. We passionately believe in the potential of primary and community based health services to improve healthcare and ease pressure on our hospitals. This is the latest of our primary care centres to be developed. CHO 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 CHO Dublin North City and County and the range of health services these centres can provide.’
Speaking at the opening Des O Flynn, Head of Primary Care, CHO Dublin North City and County said ‘GP’s play a significant role in healthcare and are pivotal to the delivery of primary care services in the community. I am particularly pleased to have the Mountjoy Street Family Practice GP’s based here, under the watchful eye of Dr Austin O’Carroll GP.
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.
I would also like to pay tribute to all the great staff, both in the HSE and private practice who are working here. I have no doubt that this facility will help you all in getting to know each other and foster good working relationships which can only be an asset in providing quality care to service users.’
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.
The Primary Care Centre involved the conservation and extension to what was a former Laundry building. The building layout is designed over three floors with seamless integration between the old and new buildings.
The Primary Care Centre is the second of the HSE’s buildings to be constructed as part of the redevelopment of the original St Brendan’s Hospital site in Grangegorman. In 2013, the award winning Phoenix Care Centre opened providing 54 beds for the HSE Mental Health Service.
ENDS