Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome that the HSE has advised no decision has been made to close the health centres in Elphin and Strokestown. While the Minister of State has said some services may be relocated, she acknowledged that where a GP remains in a health centre, it will remain open. It is a very important point. Once a health centre is staffed by a GP, the health centre cannot be closed. It is one message I want to send out today.

While I welcome the development of primary care centres, it is not all about bricks and mortar and building fancy new buildings; it is about the activity that happens in the primary care centre. Often where care is delivered close to communities and where people have easy access to care it is the best form of care and it leads to fewer referrals to hospitals and earlier discharges. I welcome that no health centre will be closed as long as a GP remains in situ.