Expansion of services planned for Chronic Disease Hub in Ennis
INDEPENDENT Clare TD Michael McNamara says he has received confirmation from the HSE that a significant expansion of services at the Ennis-based Chronic Disease Hub is planned over the coming months.
According to Deputy McNamara, recruitment is now underway to fill the new positions in the areas of cardiology, physiotherapy, respiratory and diabetes.
Based at the Primary Care Centre at Station Road in Ennis, the Hub became operational in December 2022 and already has 10 staff and disciplines in place with a further 11.7 WTE positions to be filled.
Deputy McNamara says half of the committed staff required to make the Hub fully operational are in place and that while some grades of post are proving difficult to recruit, further appointments are expected in the coming weeks.
The information was relayed to him in reply to a Parliamentary Question.
“There is a number of other positions now filled that will further expand the quality and level of services provided from Ennis,” stated Deputy McNamara. A Senior Dietician was appointed last month and I have been informed that Diabetes Self-Management Education Services and one to one appointments are scheduled to commence this month, while a Consultant in Cardiology will greatly strengthen chronic disease cardiology services in Clare when they take up their position before the end of June," he said,
“Furthermore, a GP Respiratory Pilot Programme based in North Tipperary is planned to be rolled out in Clare by the end of March, Diabetes Self-Management Education Services and one-to-one appointments are planned to commence this month, a Diabetes Education workshop for Type II Diabetic is planned for March, and a Cardiology Pilot service in Limerick will extend to Clare in due course,” he added.
“The commencement and planned expansion of operations at the Chronic Disease Hub will be welcomed by people across Clare who will now have easier access to a range of health services. Receiving healthcare in the community is an important step forward and I look forward to progress being made in reducing waiting lists, particularly in the areas of diabetes, physiotherapy, respiratory and cardiology treatment,” concluded Deputy McNamara.