Dr. Brian Osborne:

It is perhaps more important to talk about primary care teams than primary care centres. Where the activity takes place is a secondary concern. Building all these new primary care centres does not mean one extra patient will be seen. With the financial constraints the country appears to have, it is be more important to invest in human resources than buildings. General practitioners may own their surgeries or be in long-term leases. There are financial constraints that will limit them from jumping from one building to another. In some areas such as Country Roscommon, the HSE is trying to charge Dublin rents. There are huge issues around centres, but the teams are more important. Everyone does not have to be in the same building but they need to be in contact, ideally by electronic communication.