Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
842. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to or if he is being consulted by the HSE on the priority locations for new planned primary care centres; if he has met with the HSE on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24328/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care Centres (PCCs) and other primary care facilities across the country, although Department officials do of course engage with HSE colleagues to ensure effective oversight of developments in primary care.
In order to determine the priority locations for the development of PCCs, the HSE undertook an assessment of current and future primary care accommodation needs that took into consideration:
- the appropriateness of existing accommodation
- the availability of HSE lands for development of PCCs
- existing plans for procuring PCCs where they were at a very advanced stage
- the future needs such as projected population growth and GP numbers to ensure the PCCs would be fit for purpose for the foreseeable future.
On foot of this assessment, in consultation with the Department, a national prioritisation of PCC locations was then carried out by the HSE, based on:
- service need - each area manager was requested to rate the requirement to develop a PCC against competing priorities in their area
- infrastructural need - HSE estates provided a rating based on the space allocated to the PCT in their current location, the co-location of services, and the age and quality of the existing building
- deprivation - based on regional deprivation indices.
Any reconfigurations or new locations identified since the rankings were produced in 2012 have been determined locally in line with the needs of local communities, geographical location, population health needs and so on.
The expansion of community and primary care is at the heart of the Sláintecare vision, and my Department and the HSE will continue to work together to develop primary care infrastructure and services to meet the needs of patients and clients, citizens, families and carers.
