Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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489. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the extent to which the public health sector is catered for in primary care centres already in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43939/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is continuing to deliver Primary Care Centres (PCCs) in line with our commitment to expanding primary care services. There are now 124 PCCs in operation, with another 83 sites at various stages of development from early planning to construction.  

I have visited many of these centres and have seen first-hand the excellent work being undertaken and the myriad of services being delivered to communities. PCCs help to support the interdisciplinary delivery of care and can enable the seamless and joined up provision of care to patients. In addition to the core GP, nursing and therapy services delivered by Primary Care Teams, a range of additional services are available from PCCs, including child health developmental clinics, counselling services, oral health care, diabetes clinics and much more besides. I would also note that a number of  Community Intervention Teams operate from primary care centres.

In addition, the centres can facilitate community engagement and participation through the provision of meetings rooms or group spaces, while the centres also fulfil a key role in terms of facilitating meetings and training for HSE and other public service staff. Clearly, the range and scale of services being provided by and within PCCs is helping to bring care closer to home and is having a positive impact on patient health. The effective utilisation of PCCs will be integral to the future organisation and operation of community-based services envisioned by Sláintecare.