Urgent Care Centre at St. Mary’s proof of Govt’s commitment to the northside – Murphy

Fine Gael Cork North Central Deputy, Dara Murphy, has welcomed the official opening of the Urgent Care Centre on the St Mary’s site in Gurranabraher today (Friday) by the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly TD. Deputy Murphy said the location of the Centre at St. Mary’s is proof of the Government’s commitment to the hospital site as well the northside of Cork City.

“The success of the Urgent Care Centre at St. Mary’s is plain to see. This facility has been exceptionally well received locally and patients are being seen and treated in an average of 65 minutes. With the facility open seven days a week from 8am to 6pm, the difference it is making to the lives of the people of the northside is immense.

“The site has great potential for further expansion and has already being earmarked for a Primary Care Centre. Minister Reilly and the HSE South are actively looking at the viability of making this a reality on the St. Mary’s site, and discussions are on-going with local GPs.

“The people of the northside of Cork city have been denied adequate healthcare services since the closure in 1987 of the North Infirmary. I have long campaigned for the retention of services at the St. Mary’s site and the success of this facility is testament to the hard work of Government in delivering for the people of the northside.
“The Centre, which has an Injury Unit for the treatment of non-life threatening and non-limb threatening injuries, and a Medical Assessment Unit that has a role in supporting GPs, allows those on the northside, who are in need of medical care, to be treated closer to home. This applies not just to northside residents but also to those in Blarney and Glanmire and allows them to avoid having to attend busy A&E departments in the city for minor injuries, saving time and hassle.
“I would like to thank Minister Reilly for the commitment he has shown to the site and to the people of Cork. I have been highly personally involved in the development of this site and will continue to work for further developments, including a Primary Care Centre and for respite care services.

“The official opening today proves that, despite the economic constraints in which we find ourselves, we can continue to improve health services locally.”