Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has visited the Athy Primary Care Centre development in Co. Kildare to review progress on the site, which is due to be completed by early 2020.

The €11 million development on the Dublin Road will host HSE primary care services including public health nursing, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics, community network disability team, counselling and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as well as a GP Practice and Mc Cauley Health & Beauty Pharmacy Group will be operating the pharmacy on site.  Tusla will also occupy significant space within the centre.

Designed by Quinn Architects, Conack Construction won the contract to build the 3 storey healthcare building.

Speaking at the site, Minister for Health Simon Harris TD said, “This primary care centre will provide a really wide range of services for the community in Athy and the surrounding area, and it has been designed to be an age-friendly facility in line with the Kildare Age Friendly Programme. Looking at the construction progress today, we can begin to see the scale of the centre and the impact that it will have in this region for the rollout of best practice healthcare services in the community.”

More than 50 people are employed in the construction phase of the almost 4,000m² development in Athy.  Developed and managed by Axis Group, a leader in facilities management of Primary Health Care Centres in Ireland, on behalf of UK based Primary Health Properties plc (PHP), the facility is expected to be handed over to the HSE in January 2020.

Ann O’Shea HSE Chief Officer for Community Healthcare Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow noted that “the HSE are very happy to see this state of the art building proceed here for the community of Athy. The staff of the HSE are looking forward to providing their services to clients in a purpose built modern facility. The age friendly facility is our opportunity to ensure all need of the community we serve are best  met and the HSE will continue to engage with our communities to ensure this fine facility is best used for the local population.”

“This development will be an important healthcare asset for Athy and the region, as a custom built, best in class facility that meets the needs of every age group and diverse healthcare needs.  We have seen the enormous impact that Primary Health Care Centres have in their communities, through our other managed healthcare centres in Ireland and we look forward to opening this centre in Kildare in the coming year,” said Mr. James Buckley, Managing Director of the Axis Group.

A representative from McCauley Health & Beauty Group said, “This PCC is complementary to our existing business on Leinster St. in Athy and the three pharmacies that we operate in nearby Carlow town. All of these pharmacies along with our innovative Mc Cauley App will ensure that the patients of this fantastic new PCC  facility will receive the premium service they require & deserve.”