By Gary Culliton.
A further five primary care centres are expected to open in the first quarter of 2011, the HSE has confirmed.
Overall, the HSE expects at least 115 centres to be operational by 2013, supporting 160 teams.
Approximately 270 possible locations for such centres have been identified by the Executive. These were advertised in two stages in late 2007 and mid-2008.
Approximately 220 new centres are currently under consideration and in 210 locations the HSE Board has agreed to proceed with negotiations with interested parties. Some 107 centres are currently in contractual negotiations that will accommodate 137 teams, while a total of 12 centres procured by lease agreement are complete and in operation.
The HSE has signalled that projections will change every quarter due to negotiations being progressed or finalised, or projects not progressing due to various issues, including planning, banking and “market issues”.
The Executive is continuing to develop a number of primary care centres funded through its capital allocation, and a number of these centres are at advanced stages of development, it added.
gary.culliton@imt.ie