*Photograph: Joe Buckley
EXPRESSIONS of interest have been sought by the HSE from third parties for the provision of a new primary care healthcare centre in Sixmilebridge.
A priced offer process will be undertaken in the third quarter of 2023 for the primary care centre.
Planning had been approved for the primary care centre but an issue with the sale over the identified land at Ashview Drive had halted development resulting in an over-year long delay.
Years of uncertainty have clouded the project due to the legal issues between the HSE and its developer. Planning was first lodged in March 2019 for the 1,600 square metre two-storey care centre.
When the Primary Care Centre is operational, it will provide a full range of Primary Care Services including Public Health Nursing, Child Health, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Occupational Therapy. These services will be provided by staff who are currently located in existing HSE sites, including Sixmilebridge and Shannon Health Centres.
HSE officials confirmed in response to a parliamentary question from Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) that it has sought expressions of interest from third parties in the provision of the centre.
Deputy McNamara said the delivery of the new facility was essential to help to ease pressure on the Mid West Region’s main hospital at UHL. “The Capital and Estates department of the HSE has informed me that the delivery of the facility is being carried out via its Primary Care Centre Operational Lease Mechanism. The location was re-advertised seeking expressions of interest from third parties in the provision of Primary Care Centres via Operational Leases”.
Delays with the project were referenced by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). “In our own neck of the woods, we have been trying to get a health centre in Sixmilebridge for the last five years,” he stated while criticising the funding models within the HSE.
