No decision has been made to transfer Monksland Primary Care Centre from the Mayo/Galway/Roscommon HSE area to the North Leinster HSE area, which includes Westmeath.
The news follows a query put forward by Senator Terry Leyden as part of “Commencement matters” in the Seanad yesterday. Senator Leyden sought assurances from the Minister for Health on behalf of the people of Roscommon that the Primary Care Centre in Monksland will remain under the HSE West and not be moved “under any circumstance” to the control of HSE (Community Health Organisation CHO8) which serves counties Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Meath. He also sought assurances that any such move would not be “another attack on the integrity of the County of Roscommon”.
In a wide ranging response which outlined the concept of Primary Care Centres and HSE structures the Minister of State Sean Canney TD, on behalf of Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, said no decision has been made to transfer control. The response did, however, include a paragraph which may not be as reassuring those concerned about a potential transfer of the Monksland facility may have wanted.
Deputy Canney said “It is very important to stress that, from the point of view of people using the wide range of services provided by the HSE at community level, the management structures which overlay these should be of little or no consequences. The objective is to ensure that services are responsive to people’s needs and enable them to receive a joined-up service that results in the most favourable health outcomes for patients.