Lawlor welcomes plans for a new Primary Care Centre in Kilcock

Fine Gael Deputy for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor TD, has welcomed plans for a new Primary Care Centre in Kilcock. The announcement was made as part of a multi-billion euro stimulus package unveiled by the Government, which also includes significant investment in roads and schools across the country. Of the 35 locations earmarked for Primary Care Centres, 20 will initially be commissioned for development under the Public Private Partnership Programme whilst the remaining will be progressed during later stages of the Programme.

“It will come as a great boost to the people of Kildare North to know that Kilcock has been identified as in need of a new Primary Care Centre. A new centre would make a real difference to the way in which the people of Kilcock access health care services in the community and I am delighted that the needs of the area have been considered by the Minister in this regard.

“Developing the network of Primary Care Centres is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. It was also a central plank of Fine Gael’s reform programme for the health service, which was developed in Opposition and is now being pursued in Government by Minister James Reilly and his colleague Minister Roisin Shorthall.

“Primary Care Centres will be the first point of contact for people who need to access health services in the years ahead. In a developed Primary Care system, as envisaged by the Government, up to 95% of people’s day-to-day health and social care needs can be provided in a community setting.

“A new centre would make a substantial difference to the lives of people in Kilcock. As well as treating illness, the centre in Kilcock would help people to care for themselves, such as those with a long-term illness, and would also help to prevent serious illness from occurring in the first place by providing easily accessible health services in the community.

“A focus on Primary Care not only benefits patients, it will also benefit the taxpayer. By allowing patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, stroke and asthma, to be treated near or at their homes, we can save the health service millions of euro by preventing hospital stays.

“I look forward to the development of the new Primary Care Centre and I will urge the Minister to consider Kilcock for the first phase of the PPP Programme, to ensure that the needs of the community are addressed without delay.”

ENDS