Galway East TD Sean Canney has described the HSE and Department of Health's "inability" to provide services within the new primary care centre in Tuam as "ludicrous".
The centre has been open to the public for more than two years, and the local Community Healthcare West Primary Care team is trying to install X-Ray facilities and an audiology testing facility into the building.
“The installation of x-ray facilities would allow for over 2,000 x-rays to be carried out in Tuam annually. This would substantially reduce the number of people needing to travel into UCHG from Tuam and North Galway." said Dep Canney.
“It is ludicrous that the Department of Heath has overseen a contract process which has given control of the building and its uses to a PPP company" - Dep Sean Canney
However, according to the TD, to do this, the CHWPC must receive the approval of the associated approval of the PPP company prior to any of the services being installed, as this approval would require a formal alteration of the existing contract.
“It is ludicrous that the Department of Heath has overseen a contract process which has given control of the building and its uses to a PPP company, which can then decide what services are delivered in our primary care centres."
Dep Canney has also called for "a serious examination" of how PPP contracts are drawn up.
