Minister Donohoe welcomes agreement to secure Summerhill GP Care for All Services

Minister for Finance and Fine Gael Dublin Central TD, Paschal Donohoe, has today (Wednesday) said that intensive engagement between the HSE, the Department of Health and GP Care for All services has resulted in a resolution of outstanding issues that will now see the healthcare practice in Summerhill secured for the people of the area.

The Minister went on to say that talks between the parties regarding the proposed new financial structural model were agreed through much goodwill engagement and a determination on all sides to find a solution.

“The Primary Care model is one that works. It gives local people access to healthcare in the community, it eases the pressure on hospitals and allows people to have their healthcare needs met closer to home,” he said.

“Much work has been undertaken by me and the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, working closely with the HSE, in recent months to alleviate the perceived threat to the services due to a financial planning matter. Independent expert advice was provided to the charity and its GPs in a bid to find a structural model that would allow them to deliver services on a sustainable footing in line with tax law. That has now been agreed.

“By all sides working together and through the HSE giving an undertaking of support, both financial and in the form of additional staff, a way forward has been found. I thank Minister Carroll MacNeill and the HSE for their work on this matter.

“Primary Care Centres provide a single point of access to primary care health services through modern, purpose-designed buildings that provide a single location for a primary care team to work from and to meet the healthcare needs of the local community. The people of Summerhill value their GP Care for All service, the Government values it and above all the GPs concerned are wholly committed to the area making the resolution of this issue a win-win for all.”