Primary Care Centres Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Questions (377)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

377. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the spend on primary care centres to date; the spend that is yet to be made; the international examples upon which the roll-out of primary care centres was based; if there have been difficulties in achieving this, including recruitment of health professionals to posts in these centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8819/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Primary Care Strategy, which was published in 2001, is available on line at http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/primary-care-a-new-direction/. During the preparation of the strategy, primary care strategies in a number of other countries were examined. An outline of those Primary Care systems is given at Appendix 2 at the aforementioned link.

The mechanism and time scale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors, including staffing. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to sufficient financing.

Despite constraints on the availability of public capital and revenue in recent years, a very ambitious programme is underway to develop Primary Care Centres and support the provision of an enhanced and more integrated range of services within communities.

There are currently 86 Primary Care Centres in operation throughout the country, 43 of which have opened since 2011. At present, there are also 37 locations where Primary Care Centres are at an advanced planning stage using one of the three methods of delivery; Direct build (by HSE); Public Private Partnership (PPP) project; or Operational Lease with private sector. These are expected to be delivered by the end of 2016/first half of 2017.

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care infrastructure and the staffing of Centres, the Executive has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy about difficulties related to the staffing of Centres and about the spend (capital and revenue monies) for existing and proposed Centres. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office which will follow up the matter.