Prof Brendan Drumm opens Irishtown and Ringsend Primary Care Centre

Irishtown and Ringsend Primary Care Centre was officially opened on the 7th July 2009 by Professor Brendan Drumm, CEO of the HSE. The centre is run by a Primary Care Team (PCT) of health professionals and experts.

The Irishtown and Ringsend PCT comprises three GP practices and eleven existing HSE staff who provide services to a population of approximately 9,000 people, a large proportion of which is older people, in the densely-populated community of Irishtown and Ringsend.

Professor Drumm said that Primary Care Teams (PCTs) were unlocking Ireland’s potential to deliver a first-class community-based health service and reduce our over-dependence on acute hospitals.

More than 850,000 people can now avail of the ‘one-stop’ shop health and social care from PCTs. The HSE is on target to have 530 local PCTs in place by the end of 2011– everyone in the country should then be able to access up to 95% of the care they need within their local community.

PCTs provide an easy access point to local health and personal social care services such as GPs, physiotherapy, public health nursing, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy services, dietetics, community welfare and support for chronic illnesses such as diabetes,asthma etc in a full, integrated way.

Dr Tony O’Sullivan PCT GP said: “Primary care teams are greater than the sum of their parts. They are encouraged to develop more integrated team working than before. They treat a defined population, and work together through inter-referral and regular team meetings to provide a comprehensive, integrated service to patients. This service is no longer a reactive one, simply responding when patients become ill, but a much more pro-active one, using education and preventive approaches to preserve health and empower people to maintain their health.”

The members of the Irishtown and Ringsend PCT are located in a new purpose-built primary care centre in Irishtown. The centre which was completed in December 2008 was designed by A& D Wejcherts and Partners and is a low-energy and sustainable design.

Two weeks ago it was awarded the Best Accessible Project 2009 from the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland for its inclusive design.

Facilities include a physiotherapy and occupational therapy treatment room, wound clinic, minor surgery, dental suite, health promotion room and interview and clinical rooms used by staff.

Additional staff have been appointed to the team, including a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and social worker while additional staff such as a dietician will support a number of teams. All those living in the defined population can access the team and can self-refer to any team members.

Assessment and discussion in team clinical meetings leads to a co-ordinated plan of action, which has a positive impact on recovery and helps the client to maintain their health and independence.

For more information please contact: Ellen O’Dea, South Inner City Partnership/ Dublin South City, Meath Community Unit, Heytesbury St., Dublin 8.

Telephone: 014545385. Mobile: 086 8064961. Email: ellen.odea@hse.ie

Pictured at the opening are Dr Jim McCafferty, Dentist; Colleen O’Neill, Principal Dental Surgeon and Rosaleen Doyle, Dental Nurse with Professor Brendan Drumm, CEO of the HSE.
(Photo: Jason Clarke Photography).