Healthcare centre ‘unaffected’ by examinership

Doctors at the Killarney Primary Care Centre yesterday said normal business has not been affected by a High Court decision to appoint an examiner to the Prime Healthcare Group that had been involved in setting up the centre.

“The High Court decision won’t have any effect on GP services. It is business as usual,” said Dr Gary Stack, one of the practicing doctors at the centre.

Almost 60 people are employed at the one-stop medical centre, which cost €25 million and which houses five GP practices and a pharmacy.

An estimated 25,000 patients annually use the centre, located in the Reeks Gateway development close to the Tralee Road roundabout.

Prime Healthcare Group last week petitioned the High Court for the appointment of an interim examiner for three of its companies at the end of January.

Neil Hughes of Hughes Blake Chartered accountants was appointed examiner over Prime Healthcare Ltd, PH Prime Property Ltd, PH Pharmacy Ltd.

The examinership process will last for 100 days during which it is hoped that an arrangement can be reached between the companies and creditors with a view to Prime Healthcare continuing in operation.

Dr Stack, meanwhile, said a central issue in relation to the Killarney centre was that a large amount of medical space remained unused due to a planning objection.

“We’re very disappointed that we have not yet been able to provide additional services, including radiology and physiotherapy, because of delays due to planning,” he said.

An appeal has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala by some Killarney town-based pharmacists opposing the use of two blocks for a medical centre and the subdivision of a ground floor unit to accommodate a pharmacy, café and medical centre.

The centre has been the subject of what GPs have described as serial objections on planning matters since it was first mooted seven years ago.

A decision on the latest objection is due to be made by An Bord Pleanala on March 28.