Maguire calls on HSE to provide Primary Care Centre for North Sligo – as north county Sligo very poorly served.

Councillor Sinéad Maguire, Fine Gael, has put down a motion for Sligo County Council (Monday 3rd December) to actively lobby the HSE to fulfil its promise to upgrade the medical health centre at Drumcliffe to a Primary Care centre. There is currently only one small group GP practice located in North County Sligo, located in Drumcliffe, which is providing care to a large rural population with multiple medical needs. The HSE has granted planning permission for such a primary health centre behind the current Drumcliffe medical centre.

Councillor Maguire said, “We need to make this a reality for the people of North Sligo. Without a Primary Care centre, north County Sligo is very poorly served. GPs in the Drumcliffe Family practice are a part of the primary care team in North Sligo. They are housed in a completely unsuitable building which is not fit for purpose. Patients wait in their cars to see a doctor as the building is so cold and it is without wheelchair access. This makes it very difficult to provide a high standard of care to the sick, our ageing rural population, and the vulnerable.

Councillor Maguire added, “Primary Care Centres are an integral part of the national strategy on providing excellent health care in the community. We have seen the benefits such centres have brought to other parts of County Sligo and the country as a whole. This multi-disciplinary approach to providing healthcare out of a central location is best for patients, and best for communities. It means that patients can most often receive the care they need without entering the hospital system.”

“Having a Primary Care Centre would facilitate onsite public health nursing. Elderly patients would not have to travel to Sligo town for certain services. Mothers and new babies would be able have their check-ups on site, also avoiding having to travel to Sligo town. A range of services could be provided locally from the centre including onsite physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and diabetes clinics. The people of North Sligo deserve no less.”

ENDS