4 FINGAL GAZETTE 16 February 2017
HEALTH | CALL FOR TOWN TO GET FACILITY RATHER THAN RELY ON OTHERS
Give Swords its own day hospital – Reilly SYLVIA POWNALL FORMER Health Minister James Reilly has called for a day hospital to be established in Swords. The Fine Gael Senator and deputy party leader has lobbied Health Minister Simon Harris to provide a facility where smaller medical procedures can be carried out. This, he said, will take the pressure off major
hospitals where numbers on trolleys reached record numbers during the height of the winter flu epidemic last month. Senator Reilly – who was once voted the worst health minister ever in a public poll – was mired in controversy on more than one occasion during his time at the department of health, and accused of bias towards his own constituency.
His decision to add Balbriggan to the list for primary care centres almost toppled the Government – but the badly-needed centre is due to open shortly and will cater for a large population. Addressing the Seanad, he said: “Whilst we have terrible trouble now with waiting times and people on trolleys, they are influenced very much by what happens in primary care
and early diagnosis and early intervention, which are critical. “What happens after treatment, in terms of facilities for people to return home? Most people want to go home. “In that context, I want to raise the need for a day hospital in Swords to serve the needs of the people of north county Dublin. “Both the Mater Hospital and Beaumont Hospital are large regional hospitals with national specialities and regional specialities and services. “Very often, surgery has to be day surgery and places are taken up by acute admissions from the night before. “If we had a separate day hospital in Swords,
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‘A separate day hospital in Swords would mean a wide range of procedures could then take place locally’
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James Reilly
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which is accessible to over 100,000 people and beyond, many of these procedures can take place there, like hernias, gall bladder surgery, cataracts, plastic surgery etc. “These are very successfully being carried out currently in places like Ennis,
Dundalk, Roscommon and Nenagh. “I am calling on the Minister to give consideration to the provision of a day hospital for Swords and hopefully he can come in to the Seanad at some time to discuss this proposal at length.”
FASTNews
Suite deal goes a bit sour with red tape tangle THE transfer of the former marketing suite at Racecourse Park in Baldoyle to the local community has become bogged down in red tape. Cllr Cian O’Callaghan (SD) asked for a report on the issue but was told the council was no closer to having the privately-owned building transferred to its ownership. Officials are awaiting an assessment of the condition of the building and a costing for refurbishment works before planning how best the facility could meet the needs of local community groups. Senior council official Paul Smyth told councillors that the local authority was doing all it could to complete the transfer, but needed “a willing partner on the other side”.
Alternative sites for forest park being considerd
Community joy as Castleland centre is opened by the mayor NUALA O’Connor, the Mayor of Fingal Cllr Darragh Butler and Michael O’Leary, principal, Ardgillan Community College had every reason to smile as they took in the official opening of the Castleland Community Centre, Balbriggan. Joining Cllr Butler for his official opening duties were Paul Reid, chief executive of Fingal County Council and Paddy Lavelle, chief executive, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board, with them showering praise on the community centre. Built in 2015 and opened to the community in 2016, the modern multi-purpose facility offers a wide range of activities and facilities available for community use, with a number of spacious meeting rooms, a dance studio, sports hall and an all-weather pitch available for classes or training purposes.
FINGAL County Council is considering a number of alternative sites for a forest adventure park after plans for a new facility at Malahide Castle were abandoned. It is understood that Ardgillan Castle in Balbriggan is in its sights. Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) wants Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate in the mix too. He mooted the idea at a council meeting, adding it would be ideal “given its very close proximity to the large population areas of Malahide, Swords and north Fingal”. The council withdrew plans for a treetop and zipline adventure amenity at Malahide Demesne after locals mounted a legal challenge.