Funding provided for amendments to GP suites at Tipperary Primary Care Centre

Cllr David Dunne of the  Carrick-on-Suir LEA welcomed the funding of € 140,350, which was allocated to the Carrick-on-Suir Primary care centre under the HSE  Capital Plan.

“The HSE Capital Plan will provide funding for the detailed design and amendments to the existing GP suites to accommodate an incoming GP Practice.

These supports in terms of making the workspace more suitable for GP surgeries are welcome, but we need to acknowledge that staff in GP surgeries have long been highlighting the need for more appropriate infrastructure to support treating patients and provide more suitable workplaces for practice staff.

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The Irish College of GPs (ICGP) recently highlighted that rural practices need particular support and incentives to attract GPs to come.

Infrastructure and investment in Primary Care is a key point of this,” added Cllr Dunne.

On a separate but related point, Cllr Dunne stated that from his reading of the HSE Capital Plan, there will be almost €41 million allocated for Palliative Care projects in 2026.

“That the people of Carrick- on-Suir and its surrounding areas continue to highlight the impact of the closure of St Brigid’s District Hospital by the HSE Area Management and was copper fastened by the FF FG Government at that time.

The loss of inpatient services in St Brigid’s included the palliative care suites in which many people I know spent their final days in the tender care of the staff – there is no doubt that the funding could have been made available to bring St Brigid’]s Hospital up to the standards required of it as an inpatient facility,” said Cllr Dunne.

Cllr Dunne further added that “In terms of Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel – I do wish to make the point that after a long period of underfunding of public services by successive Governments, it is welcome to see significant funding allocated for the hospital in this plan.

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A number of projects are being rolled out including €449,120 for the replacement of three lifts with two fire evacuation bed lifts, one fire evacuation passenger lift along with a the vital funding to be spent on a detailed design for an extension to the Emergency Department (ED).
Given the overcrowding we have seen at TUH, an extension and capacity increase for the hospital is very welcome.”