Future of local pharmacy in doubt A NORTHSIDE community that has been left waiting for a local Health Service Executive (HSE) clinic to open in their area is now facing the loss of its pharmacy.
Residents in Clongriffin have been waiting nearly two years for a planned primary care clinic that has not materialised.
However, the HSE said it is not in a position to continue with the planned clinic, which would have employed seven doctors to serve the local community.
Anne McNeill, proprietor of Clongriffin Pharmacy, told Northside People this is a nightmare scenario for the community and local business.
Ms McNeill established her pharmacy in the community hoping to provide prescriptions for locals attending the clinic.
She explained that as the clinic never opened and many units remain unoccupied in the area, she has been struggling to keep her business going.
“The pharmacy currently remains closed on a Monday due to the shortage of business and customers,” she said.
“Locals have told me that they are waiting for a doctor to be moved in before changing their prescriptions to our pharmacy.
“Any doctor operating in the community would have more than enough patients.
“At the moment people have to travel as far as Blanchardstown to go to their old doctors.”
Ms McNeill has been involved in the setting up of initiatives in Clongriffin such as the Mother and Baby Group, which proved to be hugely successful.
She said there is a thriving local community that is being left without vital services.
“There is a huge population in the area and people are horrified that they might lose the local pharmacy,” she added.
“We set up here to provide people going to the clinic with their prescriptions and have been left waiting not knowing what is going on.
“There is a petition in the shop for local people to sign to call on the HSE to open up the clinic.”
Local community activist and Peace Commissioner, Brian Byrne, said the clinic should be opened as a matter of urgency.
“Clongriffin Pharmacy acquired a unit in the town centre on the understanding that the HSE were to open a new clinic with between four to seven doctors,” Mr Byrne told Northside People.
“Up until recently both Anne and the residents were told that the clinic would open but they received confirmation directly from the HSE that the clinic would not be opening.
“Anne's business continues to suffer as a result of the lack of occupied units in Clongriffin as many units remain empty.”
Mr Byrne is hoping to work with the pharmacy and local developers to find a solution to the problem.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said the process of providing a Primary Care Centre for the North Fringe area had been well advanced through the Primary Care Infrastructure Initiative Scheme.
“The scheme allows interested parties provide to the HSE accommodation which is suitable for the provision of Primary Care Team services,” she told Northside People.
“In return, the HSE enters into a 25-year lease with the preferred provider for accommodation occupied by the HSE.
“One principle condition is that the preferred provider must secure a minimum number of General Practice doctors servicing General Medical Scheme patients in the locality.
“It will operate out of the same building as the HSE under the banner of the Primary Care Centre.”   
The spokeswoman said that at the end of November 2009, following a considerable amount of work, the General Practice doctors who had previously declared their support for the Clongriffin Primary Care Centre withdrew from the process.
“Following the withdrawal of the General Practice doctors the preferred provider no longer satisfied the conditions of the Primary Care Infrastructure Initiative,” she added.
“Consequently, the HSE is no longer in a position to proceed with a lease agreement for Primary Care Team accommodation at this location.
“The HSE will be considering other options, including alternative submissions received, which would best provide for the needs identified in the wider North Fringe, Baldoyle and Edenmore/Kilbarrack areas.”
Donaghmede ward councillor Sean Kenny (Lab) said: “It is essential for the success and future viability of Clongriffin that the promised Primary Care Centre be put in place.”