Summerhill locals hear about major health centre plans

A public meeting held recently in Summerhill to inform the local community about plans for a new primary care centre in the village was well-attended. Plans for a new primary care centre are being led by local GP, Dr Joe Clarke, who is the nation lead for primary care for the HSE. The meeting, which took place on 30th June, was addressed by local HSE health manager for Meath, David Gaskin, Mary Rose Smith, development officer for primary care; Mary Nally, chairperson of the Third Age Foundation, and Dr Clarke. The meeting was told about the proposal to develop a new primary care centre for the village with the capacity to house GPs, a pharmacy, primary care staff and the Third Age Centre for older people. The proposed centre will be approximately 10,000 sq ft and will be funded under a Government's public private partnership arrangement, one of a number of such centres being constructed around the country. Dr Clarke explained that the plans will be drawn up over the coming months and will be available to view in the locality when the planning application is submitted. It is hoped that the centre will be completed by the end of 2011. "It is hoped to have a top-class primary care centre infrastructure in place within the coming years which will enable the delivery of services nearer to the patient in the community," said Dr Clarke. Summerhill has been designated as an area which is suitable for a primary care team and the idea is to bring GPs, public health nurses and such professions as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and homecare all under the one roof. At present, the GPs and public health nurses operate from different centres in Summerhill. Dr Clarke, said the Summerhill Primary Care Centre will be unique and a first in Ireland by virtue of having the Third Age Foundation incorporated into the plans. "Working as a team with all community services will give the opportunity to greatly increase the range and quality of services and avoid people having to end up in overcrowded hospitals," added Dr Clarke. "Having the Third Age Centre under the same roof will ensure social inclusion for older people and that a wide range of projects such as the award-winning Failte Isteach and Senior Help Line are developed and expanded across the country," he said.