Community campaigners for the Fahan Health Centre have welcomed the introduction of enhanced services following a “very successful” meeting with the HSE.
The Save Fahan Health Centre group has been fighting for nursing services to remain in the area for the past year.
A meeting with the HSE yesterday has confirmed that a nurse will be present in the Fahan Health Centre from 2:30pm to 4:30pm each Thursday afternoon to facilitate the local community.
Where the client is able to come to the centre, they are invited to do so by appointment, otherwise the care is delivered into the home.
A spokesperson for the HSE said that the HSE reiterated at the meeting that there are no plans to remove the Public Health Nursing (PHN) service from Fahan Health Centre and that PHN services continue to be provided, as defined by the needs of the patients in the area.
The newly realigned area of Fahan, Buncrana Lower and Muff West is managed by two Public Health Nurses (PHN) and Community Registered General Nurse (CRGN).
In a statement following the meeting, ‘Save Fahan Health Centre’ campaigners Carmel Lynch and Jackie Molloy said they have secured the best possible outcome: “We feel we have got the right services in place for all. From the public meeting in the Fowler Hall last year to all the support you have given us. To a community that stood with us. To all the councillors who helped us along the way. We are very grateful and proud to be part of this amazing community.”
The HSE has confirmed that Public Health Nursing service at Fahan operates a Monday to Friday service from 9am to 5pm. If you wish to make an appointment to see the Nurse in the Fahan Health Centre please Tel: 074 93 31597, please leave a voicemail and the Nurse will return your call. Voicemails left after 10.30am will be dealt with the following day.
Any telephone messages that are received are checked and responded to within a 24 hour period, which is standard practice for this service across the county.
“The HSE will continue to engage with the Fahan Health Centre Committee should any further issues arise,” the spokesperson said.
