Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Public Accounts Committee

2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 15 - Development of Primary Care Centres

9:00 am

Mr. Paul Reid:

This is mentioned in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report as well as our report. There are 127 and a further 77 are coming on-stream. Ten will be from our corporate plan next year and 67 will be from primary care operational leases. A significant number will come on-stream over the next three years.

Reverting to the original point, it is not just about building a primary care centre; it is about equipping the centre with the facilities that can enhance the patient and public's experience in them. The Deputy referred to his own experience.

It varies across the country. We do not have PCCs with the capacity that is needed. We do not have sufficient GPs coming on-stream. That is getting better. I agree with the Deputy that we have to strengthen capacity in all of our centres. Diagnostics, GPs and therapist skills are needed to ensure people have outpatient appointments in acute settings. An investment shift is required to strengthen our community settings.

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