Pat The Cope Confirms Appointment Of Design Team For €2 Million Primary Care Centre In Glenties

Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety, Pat the Cope Gallagher has confirmed that a design team has now been appointed to commence the design process for the Primary Care Centre which will be located on the site of the former national school in Glenties. The centre will provide accommodation for all services associated with a Primary Care Centre for Glenties and the surrounding area. The site was acquired from the St. Columba’s Trust on the understanding that it would be used only for a Primary Care Centre. 

The building which is now to be designed will be a single storey premises. It will facilitate the integration of Primary Care Services and individual Public Health Nurses and will be based with, and assigned to, specific GP Practices. The primary objective is to ensure the development of a fully integrated Primary Care team under one roof with a clear emphasis on patient centred care delivery.

The new facility will provide Primary Care Services and Community Service Clinics and will be used by the broader community for social interaction and activities. The new centre will enable primary care to centre on the needs of individuals and groups of people, and will match their needs with the competencies required to meet them. Some of the essential components will include assessment, diagnosis, therapy, nursing, social services referral and rehabilitation.

Speaking on the announcement Pat the Cope said “The design team will immediately set about the preparation of plans, the application for planning permission and the preparation of contract documents. It is expected that this process should be completed by the end of the year” He continued “the actual construction should commence early in 2009 and completion is expected end 2009. I know that this development will greatly improve the level and quality of the services available to the people of Glenties and I am confident that the availability of so many services under one roof will be of huge benefit to all the people who use our health services."