New Ross Primary Care Centre Clears Major HSE Hurdle

Plans for a long-awaited Primary Care Centre in New Ross have taken a major step forward after receiving approval from the HSE's Property Review Group.

Chairman of the New Ross Municipal District and Regional Health Forum representative John Fleming says a preferred site has also now been selected.

The location is not yet being made public, however, as the proposal must first receive final ratification from the HSE board later this month.

Mr Fleming said even the owners of the preferred site have not yet been officially informed as the HSE wants the approval process completed before confirming the location.

He described the development as a major step for New Ross and said delivering a Primary Care Centre for the town was one of the main reasons he joined the Regional Health Forum.

Mr Fleming also rejected suggestions that plans to reduce the size of the proposed building would lead to fewer health services.

The proposed centre has been reduced from approximately 50,000 square feet to around 26,500 square feet.

However, he said the HSE's model has changed, with rooms increasingly being used by several healthcare disciplines rather than remaining allocated to individual services which may only use them for one or two days a week.

He said the use of multi-purpose rooms would allow the full range of planned services to be delivered from a smaller and more efficient building.

The change would also reduce rental, heating and service costs.

A construction timeline will depend on the preferred site.

If a greenfield location is selected, a planning application will be required, with Mr Fleming indicating that full planning approval could potentially take until the middle of next year.

He said he also wants any agreement with a developer to include a requirement that work begins within months of receiving planning permission.

Mr Fleming said New Ross has waited a long time for the facility and pledged to continue pursuing the project until the centre is delivered.