Call to reopen health centre in Ballyhaise

Members of the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District agreed to write to the HSE in an effort to better understand its plans for the future of the health centre in Ballyhaise.

The centre has been closed for the last couple of years since Dr Michael McConville made the decision to concentrate on his Cavan Town practice and ended his attendance there.

Subsequently, services including physiotherapy, disability and speech therapy were moved to Cavan General Hospital and the HSE closed the facility to the public.

The decision to investigate the matter came on foot of a notice of motion by Sinn Fein's Paddy McDonald who suggested making contact with the HSE to see what plan it had in place, if any.

“Ballyhaise is a built-up area and there are people there who need GP and health services,” he said.

“In recent years, this service had dwindled to two days per week, run by Dr Michael McConville in conjunction with his practice on Church Street, Cavan Town. Even this part-time GP service is no longer available, with Dr McConville having retired and no replacement service, which is leaving the significant population of Ballyhaise village and surrounding areas without vital GP services.

"What, if any, is the current intended use of Ballyhaise Health Centre and will the HSE ensure a replacement GP service for the community?”

Fine Gael's Carmel Brady said the matter had also been brought to her attention by residents in the area a number of months ago. She revealed how she contacted the HSE and was told that the centre “would not open again”.

It then emerged there are three local area representatives in Cavan on the HSE Health Forum and it was agreed that those councillors would raise the matter at the next Forum meeting.