Ballincollig Primary Care Centre opens
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The Ballincollig Primary Care Centre was officially opened earlier this week by Tánaiste Micheál Martin. Photo: HSEImage 2 of 4
Pictured with the Tánaiste is 94 year old Michael Kiely. Photo: Brian LougheedImage 3 of 4
Ballincollig Primary Care Centre was officially opened by an Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD which was also attended by Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE; Tess O’Donovan, Chief Officer, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare; Priscilla Lynch, Head of Primary Care, CKCH; Audrey Russell, GP Lead for the Centre; Claire McCarthy, Community Healthcare Network 12 Manager.. Also in attendance was the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Colette Finn. The ribbon was by service user 94 year old Michael Kiely.Photo: Brian LougheedImage 4 of 4
An Tánaiste Micheál Martin having is eyes tested by optometrist Natalie O’Halloran. Pic: Brian LougheedTánaiste Micheál Martin officially opened the HSE Ballincollig Primary Care Centre earlier this week.
The centre is part the HSE Community Healthcare Network which covers Ballincollig, Bishopstown and Macroom - serving a population of 71,943. The building has a footprint of 6,100 m2 (66,000 sq.) and has been acquired on a long-term lease from Valley Healthcare Ltd.
Speaking at its opening, Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD, said: “I am delighted to officially open Ballincollig Primary Care Centre. This state-of-the-art facility is an important part in providing high quality healthcare for the people of Ballincollig, Bishopstown, Macroom and beyond.
“There are a myriad of services all under one roof in this impressive Primary Care Centre and a wide range of staff from many disciplines who provide vital integrated care that's close to home. Having facilities like this enables us to implement the principles of Sláintecare and deliver excellent, progressive, connected care," he said.
The co-location of health and social care professionals, nursing, medical, administrative and support staff in facility centre brings together many healthcare disciplines. There are also three local GP practices based at the centre: Eastgate Medical, Ovens Ballincollig Medical Centre and Esculap Medical Centre. Approximately 260 people attend Cork Kerry Community Healthcare service appointments each day at the facility, which is the local base for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, public health nursing, social work and home support managers.
The centre is also home to various HSE services, including the Cork Adult ADHD Tertiary Care Hub (CATCH), Ballincollig Sector Community Mental Health Team, Specialist Neurodevelopmental ADHD Pathway (SNAP) Team, CUMH outreach maternity clinic, the Regional Eye Care service (Ophthalmology), Smoking Cessation, and a community breastfeeding support group led by the PHN service lactation consultant.
Speaking about the new centre, Chief Clinical Officer HSE Colm Henry, said: “Primary care centres, such as this state-of-the-art one in Ballincollig, allow us to provide integrated and high quality services closer to people’s homes. This facility offers a comprehensive array of services, all conveniently housed under one roof.”
Head of Primary Care at Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Priscilla Lynch highlighted the improved care the facility will bring to the community, saying: "Providing services in a building of this quality facilitates the delivery of accessible, responsive, high quality integrated services. Staff are enabled to provide better care, closer to people’s homes, with a key aim of reducing - as far as possible - the number of people admitted to hospital.
"In 2024, we plan to improve links from services in the building with other services including chronic disease management, the ICPOP team, community welfare groups and our partners in acute and community hospitals. Our overall aim is to make the transition from hospital to the community smoother for people who use our services," she said.