Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this matter. I will respond on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. It is important to affirm the Government's commitment to developing primary care services at local level. In line with its policy document, Primary Care - A New Direction, the HSE is refocusing its services to provide direct community access to multidisciplinary teams including GPs, nurses, health care assistants, home helps, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. This policy is designed to maintain people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. It will also decrease hospital attendances, facilitate early hospital discharge and support care at home.

The HSE plans to develop 530 primary care teams and 134 primary care and social networks by 2011. Since 2002, additional funding of €52 million has been provided for the development of primary care teams. At the end of 2009, some 222 teams were operating, or holding clinical team meetings on individual client cases involving GPs and HSE staff. A further 31 teams were holding clinical team meetings without GP participation. Almost 2,800 allied health professionals, including 600 new frontline professionals, had been assigned to such teams by the end of 2009. Some 755 GPs are involved in the operation or development of primary care teams. In addition to reassigning staff from primary, community and continuing care services to work in primary care teams, the HSE also intends to redeploy a significant number of staff from acute hospitals and corporate functions into the community.

With regard to the development of a primary care centre at Glenties, my Department is reviewing the HSE draft capital plan for the period 2010-14 and following up with the HSE where further details may be required. The plan requires the approval of the Minister for Health and Children and the consent of the Minister for Finance. Details of the plan will be published by the HSE following its approval.