The Mullingar-based MIDOC facility is to relocate three kilometres closer to town to a new premises on the hospital campus by September.
This was revealed by the HSE’s area manager, Joseph Ruane, in reply to a question from Cllr Mick Dollard at the most recent meeting of the mid-Leinster regional health forum.
The move from its present location in the Lough Sheever Business Park just off the rugby club roundabout on the Castlepollard Road is expected to save the HSE approximately €100,000 a year in rent.
The premises has been at this location since 2006, and is owned by its developer Michael Kelly of Moate.
“The rationale for the move is to minimise rental property by the HSE and to benefit from economies of scale by the co-locating on the hospital site,” said Mr Ruane.
“Plans have been developed and signed off by clinicians and management with a finalisation date for the re-location of September 2013,” he added.
Cllr Dollard had put the question to the HSE after a number of rumours had suggested the MIDOC move was going to be to the St Loman’s campus on the Delvin Road.
“There are no plans to relocate ... to St Loman’s, rather the plans are to relocate the service to the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, specifically in the out-patient department,” Mr Ruane confirmed.
The subject of public bodies renting from the private sector has long been a issue with Cllr Dollard, and he has been a strong advocate of relocation as contracts expire.
“It’s absolute insanity for State agencies to rent from the private sector, particularly when you see [St] Loman’s and the [Columb] Barracks in Mullingar,” he said.
MIDOC is the is the HSE’s centralised, out-of-hours GP service, and is available to all people between the hours of 6pm and 8am each night, as well as providing 24-hour cover over the weekends, and on public holidays.
MIDOC can be accessed on (1850 ) 302702.
