HSE expects Monksland primary care facility to open early next year

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said it expects a new Primary Care facility in Monksland to be in operation early next year. Catherine Cunningham of the HSE recently stated that the new facility was being progressed under a "Primary Care Centre leasing scheme." The centre is scheduled to facilitate GP accommodation, physio services, speech and language therapy, dental care, social work and other activities. Cllr Tony Ward, a member of the HSE West Regional Forum, raised a question about the progress of the facility at its recent meeting. Ms Cunningham, a general manager with the HSE West, replied that the Monksland primary care facility was "expected to be occupied in early 2011." "The HSE are working closely with a preferred applicant for the provision of the facility. It is hoped the lease for this facility will be signed off by the end of this summer," she stated. Cllr Ward welcomed this response from the HSE. "In the current climate I would be concerned that, with cutbacks, the Monksland primary care centre could be left on the back burner. That's why I've raised this issue on a number of occasions over the last few years. "I'm happy to hear that the project is still alive and I welcome the commitment from the HSE to have it in place early next year," said the Independent councillor from Curraghboy. He added that there was a real need for a primary care centre in a well-populated area such as Monksland, where many residents are forced to undertake a 40-mile round trip to Roscommon Hospital to access services which could be provided closer to home. The HSE's primary care teams are typically seen as 'one-stop shops' which can meet most of the health needs of the local community.