Possible August opening for Birr Primary Care Centre
It's believed that the local GPs will probably move into the centre during the third quarter of this year
LOCAL Councillors are saying this week that there's a possible August opening for Birr's new Primary Care Centre, although there has been no statement about this yet by the HSE.
Work on the magnificent new building has been completed and now locals are very keen that it opens as soon as possible.
Cllr Seán Maher told the June meeting of Birr Municipal District that construction work on the new centre “has just finished and it's a fantastic facility. I am very keen that it opens as soon as possible. I was chatting to its developer, who is liaising with the HSE, and he said there's a possibility it could open and be operational in the third quarter of this year, perhaps August. However, I am concerned to see that the HSE is operating no recruitment drive for the centre at all at the moment.”
Cllr Maher pointed out that while many staff in the centre will be transferred from existing services in Birr Town and the South Offaly region, there will be a need to recruit new staff for services such as dental services, physiotherapy and caretakers of the building. He pointed out that there are two ambulances at present in the Old Hospital in Birr and they will be transferred to the new four bay ambulance area in the centre, but will all four bays be filled; in other words, will two new ambulance crews be hired, to join the current ambulance crews?
Cllr Maher added that it's believed that the local GPs will probably move into the centre during the third quarter of this year.
Cllr Peter Ormond commented that Birr MD should “write to the HSE this week and outline our concerns. We should write seeking an update on the PCC and a visit to us from representatives of the HSE, updating us on the project and its timescale."
Cllr Maher remarked that he and other Councillors are a bit concerned that the building could become something of a white elephant for several months. “We would like to see it opening as soon as possible, preferably during the summer.”
He said that it's believed that all of the town's GPs, whose spokesperson is Dr McAuliffe, will move into the centre. Also present will be a pharmacy; mental health facilities; and services from the Old Hospital.