Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Health if he has evaluated the impact of new primary care centres and in particular alleviating overcrowding at accident and emergency departments in hospitals, given the number of minor procedures undertaken by these centres that were previously the responsibility of general hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14206/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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An evaluation of the impact of new Primary Care Centres on hospital Accident and Emergency Departments has not been undertaken by the Department.

However, I can advise the Deputy that there are a range of initiatives and services provided in a primary care setting which are intended to prevent unnecessary hospital admission or attendance and to facilitate early discharge of patients. These initiatives include implementation of the Community Intervention Teams (CITs), Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT), Ultrasound Diagnostics and the GP Minor Surgery Pilot Initiative.