Construction work has been completed on the new St Mary’s Primary Care Centre and the building has been handed over to Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.
The new primary care centre is located on the grounds of the former Orthopaedic Hospital in Gurranabaraher in Cork city.
The HSE locally took possession of the building last week, and work now begins on the internal fit-out of the building.
Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald, who is also locally-based employee of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, attending a photocall to mark the handover.
HSE Staff and Local Community Groups with Lady Mayoress Georgina Fitzgerald, Lord Mayor Cllr Fitzgerald, Ger Reaney Chief Officer, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and Teresa O’Donovan, Head of Primary Care, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.
The development of this 6,220 square meter facility will provide primary care services to a population of approximately 40,000. The landmark building will have five primary care teams and four GP practices based there. It will also be home to primary care, paediatric physio, paediatric OT, dental services, mental health service, speech and language therapy, dieticians, ophthalmology, a Warfarin clinic, and an antenatal clinic.
The presence of UCC in the Northside of the city for the first time ever is also being facilitated in the primary care centre with UCC Dental School planning to provide under graduate clinical training and dental services from there.
The work to get the building ready for occupation is now underway. This work includes fitting the building out with the equipment and systems (such as ICT) necessary to support the delivery of services from the centre. Given that the building is about two thirds the size of CUMH, this is a sizeable task. Once the fitting out of the building is complete Cork Kerry Community Healthcare will arrange for services to relocate there on a phased basis. It is hoped that this will occur towards the end of the summer.
Photography by Gerard McCarthy 087 853 7228
