The newly opened health centre on Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, will serve a population of almost 250 people, ranging in age from the very young to the very old.
The facility, which was officially opened recently, by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, is part of the reconfiguration of resources by the HSE aimed at providing a significant range of client services in local communities.
Tony Canavan, the general manager of Galway Primary Community and Continuing Care, says the new centre will facilitate the provision of integrated health services on Inis Oírr.
“International and national evidence indicates that people get a better service when health and social care professionals work together to assess, plan and deliver care. The development of the island primary care team, focusing on the Aran Islands, will help to achieve this.
“The new health centre will be used to provide a wide range of health services including mental health, dentistry and early intervention services for children by visiting services to the island primary care team.”
The health centre is used by a GP who provides 24 hour medical cover for Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin and by the resident public health nurse who provides a nursing service. Speech and language therapy is provided in addition to chiropody and podiatry clinics.
The facility features a reception area, consultation rooms for the GP and public health nurse and a room for visiting clinicians. On the lower floor, there are two apartments used as living quarters for the GP and public health nurse.
The building was designed to complement the landscape with a natural slate and partial limestone cladding used to visually connect it to the predominant landscape feature of the island.
Comhar Caomhán Teo, the island co-op, embarked on the project in 1997 under the guidance of manager Eamon Ó hEanaigh and later under the tenure of Cathal Mac Suibhne and Paddy Crowe. They employed architects to design a structure sensitive to the landscape and to guide it through the planning process. The co-op however lacked the resources to begin construction and approached the HSE for assistance.
“The HSE West region then took over procurement of the project as it facilitated them in replacing the existing dated healthcare premises on the island,” explains a spokesperson for the health authority.
