Construction of the £8.5million extension to Castlebar Primary Care Center will begin next spring, according to MP Alan Dillon.
In correspondence from the HSE, Deputy Dillon said he had been told planning permission had been granted for the extension to the building at Drumconlon, Moneen, Castlebar.
He said: “The HSE is currently working with the developer to finalize the fit-up of the internal rooms while the developer has indicated that they hope to appoint a contractor and start construction in the second quarter of 2023.”
Deputy Dillon welcomed the news that the extension will create an additional 70 jobs while a range of additional services will also be provided to the center once the extended area is complete and operational.
These include public health nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, podiatry, dietetics, child and family psychology, audiology, ophthalmology, intellectual disability in mental health, MRI, the chronic disease management program and an integrated care program for the elderly.
Deputy Dillon said: ‘I am delighted to see further progress being made in expanding this already busy primary care centre. This is something I have raised with the HSE on several occasions.
“Capital investment has a critical role to play in enabling and improving service delivery and driving the universal health care reforms set out in Sláintecare.
“This includes investments to facilitate the shift of the model of care away from acute care hospitals like Mayo University Hospital and towards primary and community settings to help support and fill the capacity and infrastructure gaps that exist. within the system.
“With construction starting next year, I look forward to the opening of the center with these additional services which will be of great benefit to the wider community.”