Pictured; Minister Katherine Zappone (centre) with the leadership team of the Tallaght Primary Care Centre, Mary O’Kelly and Ann O’Shea
The official opening of a Primary Care Centre at the Russell Building in Springfield is an important development which will ensure that Tallaght has a health service which can meet the needs of local people into the future, according to Dublin South West Independent Minister, Katherine Zappone.
Minister Zappone says the location of local GPs, HSE Services and experts from Trinity College Dublin in one location makes the Springfield Centre the first of its kind in the country. Welcoming the opening by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Zappone said not only is the Centre providing important services such as speech and language, physiotherapy and an out of hours clinic it is also a place of research to ensure future health needs are identified and addressed.
Minister Zappone added: “Bringing health services into the local community makes it easier for people of all ages to access the care and support they need. The bundling of services into the Springfield Centre will cut down journeys to hospitals and reduce the burden on Accident and Emergency Services in Tallaght Hospital. In addition to routine services there is a General Nursing Wound Dressing Clinic, an Antenatal Outpatient Clinic, GPs and a pharmacy on site. What is truly ground-breaking is the link with Trinity College – making this the first Academic Primary Care Centre in the country. From here experts will look at local population changes, changes in age groups and birth rates to identify future needs.
This work will benefit families in Tallaght for generations to come. As the Springfield Centre officially opens it is also important that
planning continues for a new Primary Care Centre to serve the Kilnamanagh and Tymon communities. It is hope that services will be located in this new centre in the second half of the year. I am in close contact with my colleague the Minister for Health to ensure that this project is delivered on time – so that families can enjoy the benefits of treatment and services in their local area.”
