Councillor Declan Meehan criticises delays to Milford primary care expansion

Councillor Declan Meehan said he was “absolutely fuming” over the lack of progress on plans to expand primary‑care accommodation and reinstate Older Persons Day Services in the Milford area.

Speaking at the Regional Health Forum for the third time, Meehan described the existing Milford Health Centre as “no longer fit for purpose” and operating at full capacity, which he said is preventing satellite clinics from running and lengthening waiting times.

The proposed expansion would add space for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics and speech and language therapy, as well as bringing back Older Persons Day Services that have been absent since the closure of the service at Ramelton Community Hospital in 2020.

Earlier this year the HSE indicated an Expressions of Interest process would be used to secure leased accommodation, promising to start “in the coming weeks” with a formal tender to follow. Meehan was later told the process would begin around the end of April or early May, but he said no further action has been taken.

HSE Head of Service Primary Care CHO1 Amanda Doyle said the service has a “vested interest” in moving the project forward and that a meeting with HSE Estates is scheduled for next week to review the situation and begin an options appraisal. A Strategic Health Investment Framework is also being developed for the nearby Tamney Health Centre, which Meehan described as “completely unfit for purpose”.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Jonathan Cooper / Pexels.