Administration changes for HSE in Cork

A number of changes are to take place in the administration of community schemes in Cork from next Monday.

As the lease is about to expire on the premises at Abbeycourt House, George's Quay, and due to spending cuts, there will no longer be HSE administration or a public counter facility at Abbeycourt House. However, an information desk will be available in the Health Centre in Grattan Street.

The HSE is advising the public that many application forms and information can be obtained from the HSE website hse.ie.

Gabrielle O'Keeffe, general manager for the HSE in Cork said: "In line with the public service agreement, the administration of the community services schemes including the community adult ophthalmic scheme, blind welfare allowance, drug payment scheme, maternity and infant scheme etc. are now in the process of being centralised over three sites in West Cork, North Cork and Cork city. This will allow the HSE to maximise the administration efficiencies within the service without affecting the current service provided to the public.”        

Ms O'Keeffe continued; "The majority of these administration services are relocating to vacated ward accommodation on the grounds of St Finbarr’s Hospital which no longer meets the requisite residential standards and existing administration accommodation in North and West Cork.” 

Meanwhile Minister of State Kathleen Lynch has opened the new office of Postnatal Depression Ireland at Cork University Hospital whilst also celebrating the organisation's 20 year anniversary. Speaking at the launch Ms Lynch said: "PND affects around 20 per cent of women in Ireland every year and can vary greatly in how it affects someone with women experiencing symptoms that range from mild to very severe. 

"PND has no boundaries and is not prejudiced; it affects women of all ages, social and ethnic backgrounds, those who work at home and those who go out to work, those who are married and those who are single.”