Clash over medical centre

A GROUP of Killarney pharmacists has lodged yet another objection to a local GP-led healthcare centre.

An appeal has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála by pharmacists opposing the change of use of two blocks at the Killarney Primary Care Centre (KPCC) for a medical centre and the subdivision of a ground floor unit to accommodate a pharmacy/café and medical centre.

GPs claimed yesterday that planning objections will stop the roll-out of additional healthcare facilities planned for the KPCC, at the Reeks Gateway.

One of the GPs, Dr Gary Stack, said: “We view this latest development as an attempt by vested interests to thwart the provision of modern-day medical care.

“Due to time considerations in the planning process, it will now be a minimum of another four months before we can progress our plans to add essential services like an x-ray unit, physiotherapy, podiatry and occupational therapy, as well as facilities for visiting consultants.”

KPCC employs 59 people at the one-stop premises, which combines five GP practices and a pharmacy and caters for an estimated 25,000 patients.

But, since the KPCC initiative was first mooted over six years ago, it has been beset by what GPs described as ‘serial objections’.

With the move of the GPs to the Reeks Gateway, town pharmacists claimed to have suffered a drop in business.

Some of the pharmacists claim they are finding it difficult to survive, stating that a large pharmacy in the town had recently closed.