Posted online: Jan 12th, 2012

WORK IS OFFICIALLY about to begin on a €7.8 million Primary Care Facility in Newbridge.
The paperwork is now fully complete with Sammon Construction Ltd having signed the contract on Friday last to commence work on the project. This public/private venture between Clarington Primary Care, Centric Health, Kildare VEC and the HSE has been in the pipeline for the past three years. Creating 250 construction jobs and an estimated 100 in the facility itself following its completion, Friday was tagged a “great day” for the town and county. And, what’s more- two similar facilities are planned for Celbridge and Leixlip.
“The main aim of the Primary Care Centre model is to offer more healthcare services where clinically appropriate in a community setting rather than a hospital setting, this is generally preferable for patients,” said Dr Maurice Cox, CEO of Centric Health.
Adding: “Working in partnership with local general practitioners alongside HSE services will allow for the greater integration of healthcare services. This means that the patient also gets improved access to public healthcare and can avail of a multi-disciplinary and a more integrated care plan.”
The three storey Primary Care facility will extend over 34,000sq ft and will incorporate several medical consulting and treatment rooms, dental treatment rooms, an occupational assessment room, a pharmacy, speech and language therapy rooms, a physiotherapy gymnasium, childrens’ health rooms and a café. Diagnostic imaging and a range of specialist services from opthalmalogy will also be available to patients. The third floor will be a purpose built further education facility for the VEC.