Brendan Griffin
Ceist:1535. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding the primary care centre strategy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33296/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 July 2019
Ceisteanna (1535)
Freagraí scríofa
The HSE has responsibility for both the provision and the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres (PCCs).
Currently, PCCs are being delivered with a combination of direct build by the HSE or via an operational lease arrangement. With regard to Tralee, the HSE is entering into an operational lease for the delivery of the PCC.
Under this method, the HSE leases the accommodation from a developer who was selected to build the PCC to the HSE’s specifications. A pharmacy is a permitted use as part of the overall development with some restrictions. These stipulate that the pharmacy must have a separate entrance to the PCC and that there are no commercial links between the pharmacy and the GPs operating from the centre.
It is understood that there are a number of other tenants in the Centrepoint building in Tralee where the PCC will be located, and the relationship between them and the landlord is a purely commercial matter. As such, questions of state support or state aid to a particular pharmacist do not arise, while the occupants of the PCC will be HSE staff, including nurses and therapists.