Deal set to close on primary care units

THE FIRST set of agreements for the development of new-style primary care centres to be produced by the private sector for the Health Service Executive (HSE) are to be concluded within the next two months, according to an internal health service report.

The 18 planned new centres will be the first to come on stream under the HSE's policy of leasing part of new primary care facilities to be developed by the market.

The new facilities are being built by general practitioners and developers, with the HSE taking about 40 per cent of the floor space.

The new centres will accommodate primary care teams including GPs, physiotherapists and nursing and other staff.

The development of primary care centres is a key element of the Government's overall primary care strategy.

Commitments to improve primary care services are also set out in the Programme for Government and the national agreement, Towards 2016.

Last December the HSE advertised for expressions of interest from developers for over 110 primary care centres.

According to the internal report, the HSE received more than 450 submissions.

"The top priority locations in each region have now been assessed and discussions have been entered into with the bidders for these locations," it says.

Submissions received for other areas will be assessed over the coming month and a further advertisement for expressions of interest for centres in other locations will be placed in June.

In addition to primary care centres to be developed by the market, the HSE is also to develop similar facilities itself under the €540 million health capital spending plan to be announced shortly.

These will be largely in disadvantaged or rural areas and will include facilities in Pearse St, Tallaght and Inchicore in Dublin.

The draft capital plan, which has been sent to Minister for Health Mary Harney for approval, will see some €100 million spent on new and replacement beds in new community nursing units.

The HSE report says a total of 480 beds in community nursing units will be delivered this year with a minimum of 2,500 beds between 2009 and 2013.

Meanwhile, the draft capital programme will also see about €30 million in funding for the new adult hospital at the Mater in Dublin with about €5 million earmarked for work on the planned new national paediatric hospital on the same campus.

It is understood that the plan also allocates about €20 million to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for new cardiac and renal facilities while €15 million is to go to various projects in Beaumont Hospital.

About €18 million is to go towards the plan to reorganise acute services in the northeast onto two hospital sites.

About €10 million is to be earmarked to University College Hospital in Galway (UCHG), €10 million for upgrading the Dublin maternity hospitals and €10 million towards new radiotherapy facilities at St James's and Beaumont hospitals.