Cllr Paul DalyA LOCAL councillor is calling for plans for an Urgent Care Centre in Tralee to be fast tracked. Sinn Féin Cllr Paul Daly made the call following the opening of the Community Nursing Unit in Killarney.
“I hope that the proposed Minor Injuries Unit there will open soon,” said Cllr Daly. “Also I believe the HSE must progress a similar unit or an Urgent Care Centre in Tralee.”
“More than 60% of those attending the Emergency Department at University Hospital Kerry come from Tralee, Castleisland, West Kerry and North Kerry. It therefore makes sense to open a facility in Tralee,” he continued.
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Cllr Daly said a Minor Injuries Unit or similar in Tralee will reduce pressure on the overcrowded Emergency Department by treating patients with less serious injuries closer to where they live and should be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.
“For many people living in areas such as Corca Dhuibhne, An Ghaeltacht, Ballybunion and across North Kerry, travelling to Killarney is simply not a practical option. Tralee is their natural service town and is the location that would provide the most accessible care for the majority of patients attending UHK,” he said.
“I am calling on the government and the HSE to outline its plans for Tralee and explain how it intends to meet the healthcare needs of the large population served by UHK from the western and northern parts of the county.”
