Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has officially opened the new Primary Care Centre in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, as part of the HSE’s national Enhanced Community Care (ECC) programme.
The €240 million ECC programme is already making substantial progress nationally, reducing pressure on services and dependence on the hospital-centric model of care through enhanced and increased community services.
The Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre is a developer led (per the Axis Health Care Assets and Primary Care Properties Group) €12.5 million project. The 50,000 square feet, three storey development at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, accommodates and facilitates co-location for a multidisciplinary group of health and social care professionals to deliver primary care services to the local population for the mid Co. Wexford area. The HSE, Tusla and the Dr. Máiréad Kelly led Quarrypark Medical Centre GP practice share the building.
Primary Care services to be provided in the Centre by HSE/South East Community Healthcare include, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health Nursing, Dietitian, Speech and Language Therapy, Ophthalmology, Community Medical Doctor, Counselling in primary care, Dental, Psychology, Community Health Network management, Chronic Disease Management Team Members (including Dietitians, Physiotherapy, Podiatrists and COPD rehab nurses) and other community healthcare administrative supports.
The South East Community Healthcare’s Enniscorthy area Community Mental Health Team (serving surrounding mid Co. Wexford population of 37,000) will also be based in the Centre. This 7 day a week Consultant Psychiatrist led team includes Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy and Nursing services. The Centre in Enniscorthy is also the base for a range of SECH Health and Wellbeing support team members. Free nicotine replacement therapy and other smoking “quit” supports are available to the community from the Health Promotion and Improvement Officers at this service. Some Disability service supports will also be based in the centre, in addition to the Caredoc out of office hours GP co-operative.
A further phase at the Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre is planned, providing additional accommodation for the development of co-located accommodation for Chronic Disease Management, Integrated Care for Older Persons and Community Diagnostics.
