Outdated Laois health centres ‘like the 1980s’

THREE Laois health centres are so outdated that they appear unchanged since the 1980s, a local councillor has claimed.

Cllr Aisling Moran demanded figures on the amount spent by the HSE on health centres in Ballylinan, The Swan and Graiguecullen, as she said that residents in those areas are suffering disadvantage and discrimination.

“It is like stepping back in time when you go into them. I would like to know the reason they are not spending money on them,” Cllr Moran told the latest meeting of Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District (MD).

Cllr Moran proposed that Laois Co Council request a breakdown of monies spent by the HSE on all three centres, adding: “These health centres need to be modernised as soon as possible and brought up to current standards. They appear the same as they were in the 1980s.” 

A native of Ballylinan, the Independent councillor pointed out that Graiguecullen has a large population and she couldn’t understand why the facilities were not being modernised. She felt that people using the three health centres were “really disadvantaged” by substandard and understaffed facilities.

She said: “I don’t understand why people have to go from Ballylinan to Portlaoise for physio. It’s not fair. Why should people in Ballylinan and the Swan have to put up with this?

“I would like to know the reason they are not putting money into those health centres. I know people who need physio who have no way of going to Portlaoise because they have no transport.” 

Cllr Ben Brennan agreed and said it was “sickening” to see the old health centre in Newtown, Crettyard boarded up and in a shocking state.

He said: “They should all be brightened up and cleaned up. They are health centres but they automatically give you a bad feeling going in.” 

Cllr Brennan also felt it was “an absolute scandal” that people were sent to Portlaoise for some services, which they should be receiving in their own local areas.

Cllr Aidan Mullins recalled that he tried to have the long-vacant former health centre in Portarlington acquired from the HSE for community use but he met “a stone wall” and the building remains empty.

HE said: “The HSE property section said the building was an asset but it’s still sitting there for up to 20 years.” 

Cllr Moran requested a breakdown on how much money was spent on each health centre in Laois, “to show how discriminatory it is”.

In a written response to Cllr Moran’s proposal, MD administrator Therese Kelly said correspondence on the issue would be sent to the HSE following the council meeting.