QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the provision of a fully-funded primary healthcare facility for Freshford and Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, given the extensive rural areas being serviced by both locations and the growing demand from patients in Kilkenny city who are fining it difficult to access general practitioner services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
RESPONSE
Dear Deputy McGuinness,
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been requested to reply directly to you in the context of the above Parliamentary Question, which was submitted to the Minister for Health for the response.
I have reviewed the matter and the following outlines the current position.
Primary Care Services aim to support and promote the health and well-being of the population by making people's first point of contact with health services easily accessible, integrated and locally based. Primary Care SECH are working with our HSE Estates colleagues on the refurbishment of a number of health centres.
Extensive refurbishment has already taken place in Ballyragget Health Centre earlier this year and exploratory discussions are currently underway in relation to Freshford Health Centre.
A capital submission has also been made for a Primary Care Centre in Urlingford which will provide a purpose built modern Primary Care Centre.
I trust this information is of assistance to you. Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Anna Marie Lanigan
Head of Service-Primary Care/ Assistant National Director
South East Community Healthcare
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