Healthcare centre set to open public services early in 2016
By Laura Lyne
THE Primary Healthcare Centre located at Tallaght Cross will open its first services to the public in the first quarter of 2016, 
The Echo can confirm.
A timeline for the centre was confirmed at the July meeting of the Dublin-Mid Leinster Regional Health Forum in response to a motion from Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor.
As previously reported in The Echo, the centre will cover a number of services, including community nurses, network physiotherapy and occupational therapy services, regional audiology and adult and pediatric services.
Speaking to The Echo, Cllr O’Connor said: “I’m very happy to get a timeline on the development – it’s a very positive development for the Tallaght area.
“I was also very happy to become aware that the out-of-hours GP service will also be moved there from the hospital, and this is a service that is very helpful to people throughout Tallaght and will be welcomed.
“It will very much be a centre for community use, and I would now push to see the services brought to the community as quickly as possible.
“It is only right that the people of Tallaght get delivery of medical services in a good environment, and this is in a central area that is within walking distance to a lot of people and has great transport links.”
Tuesday’s meeting also saw Cllr O’Connor’s final meeting as the chairperson of the Dublin-Mid Leinster Regional Health Forum, a role which Cllr O’Connor said he “enjoyed”.
He said: “Last year at the first meeting of the forum, I didn’t expect to be elected as the chairman during a demanding time for myself and for my family, but I really enjoyed it.
“I did think when I became chairman that maybe it would help with getting quicker replies from the HSE on queries, but it unfortunately didn’t work out that way.
“I made an effort to make sure that members had their say, and I filled up the quota each month with motions about Tallaght, the primary care centre, the nursing home in Tymon. I hope to continue that work with the forum, but in a different role now.”
Labour councillor Mick Duff supported Cllr O’Connor in his motion about the primary healthcare centre at the meeting and joined Cllr O’Connor several months ago in viewing the premises which will be used for the centre.
Speaking to The Echo, he said: “It’s a very welcome development, and I have been very pleased with the plans. I was fortunate enough to see the premises, and it is a brilliant facility in a central location that is a transport hub for Tallaght.
“Hopefully it will ease up waiting lists, and these are all additional services that will be brought to the people of Tallaght.
“I would also like to say congratulations to Charlie on his year as chairperson, he was very fair and open and inclusive and showed a very keen interest in medical and hospital services during his time and will surely continue his great work as a member of the forum.”
