Alex Easton MLA has today called for an increase in resources and a new Health Centre for Donaghadee after revealing deep concerns at the stretched resources provided for Donaghadee Health Centre.
Speaking today Alex Easton MLA said:
“I have been approached by residents about resources for Donaghadee Health Centre, and the concerns at the population increase in Donaghadee which is having on services. It appears that Donaghadee Health Centre has not been getting increased resources to cope with the increased demand on its services. With this in mind I wrote to Donaghadee Health Centre to ask about resources and the demand on the excellent services the staff and GPs are delivering to the people of Donaghadee.”
“I was alarmed to see that due to the increase of the general population that there has been an 8.2% increase meaning that Donaghadee Health Centre has had to offer an extra 17 GP sessions a week to cope with the demand. The current practice is clearly limited by funding and capacity. I am pleased that the practice is looking to increase the capacity with plans subject to funding for a further 3 rooms to help with supply and demand. However funding for Donaghadee Health Centre appears to have been limited since 2007. It is a deeply concerning that when planning for the future of Donaghadee, there appears to have been very little taken into consideration on the pressures that would develop on the Health Centre and staff. This must not be allowed to happen until resources are found to cope with this increase in demand. I will be writing to the Health Department to ask what plans they have to increase resources and plans to expand or build a new Health Centre to cope with the pressures we see at Donghadee Health Centre.”
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