New medical centre to open in Dingle
Dr Micheál Fanning leaving the new medical centre on the Mall, Dingle, which will open on Monday. Credit: Photo by Ted Creedon
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A GROUP of Dingle doctors and nurses have established a new medical centre, which will be operational in the town next week.
The move was announced within days of the introduction of the HSE's SouthDoc system to the peninsula on October 23 and some local people told The Kerryman this week they were 'stunned' or 'amazed' when they heard the news of the development.
The new centre will be operated by those doctors and nurses who publicly voiced their opposition to the introduction of SouthDoc in recent weeks. It will open on Monday, November 9, in a premises on the Mall which is located about 100 metres from the existing medical centre, Ionad Leighis An Daingin.
The new centre will have three full-time and two part-time doctors, plus two nurses and secretarial staff. The full-time doctors are Dr Micheál Fanning, Dr Fiona Kavanagh and Dr Andrew O'Regan while Dr Paul Moroney and Dr Cian Ó Moráin will attend on a part-time basis. Nurses Nóirín Fanning and Kay Dillane will also be based in the centre.
Apart from Dr O'Regan and Dr Ó Moráin all of the above named medical personnel are currently based in the Ionad Leighis, which was set up by four local doctors over 10 years ago. One of those was Dr Micheál Fanning who is the spokesperson for the new centre and who holds a quarter share in the Ionad Leighis.
"This wasn't a last minute decision. It's the realisation of a vision I've had for several years about the future of health care and primary care on the peninsula. It fits the concept of the future of general practice and primary care in the area. Our group is committed to providing personal and continuing care to our patients on a day and night basis," he told The Kerryman.
Asked if the move was as a result of the introduction of SouthDoc Dr Fanning paused for several moments to consider the question. "I think that all of our team want to be involved in the provision of a 24hour medical service on the peninsula," he replied.
Along with general practise services, the new centre will provide additional medical clinics covering conditions such as alcohol addiction, child psychology, mental health and will also arrange for general surgeons to provide outlying clinics.
"Our group has a huge interest in developing wellwoman programmes and we will be working closely with the Primary Care Team," Dr Fanning added.
Meanwhile, Dr Conor Brosnan, who is one of the group of doctors who supported the introduction of SouthDoc to the peninsula, told The Kerryman it would be "business as usual" in the Ionad Leighis. He said he had no comment to make on the opening of the new medical centre.
