Connick Receives Commitment From HSE To Open Pharmacy In New Ross

Sean Connick TD has received a commitment from the Health Service Executive today (Thursday July 30th) that they will open and operate a pharmacy in the new Healthy Living Centre in the hospital grounds in New Ross.  According to Deputy Connick, this HSE operated pharmacy will dispense medicines to patients under the Medical Card Scheme and other state drugs schemes such as the Long Term Illness Scheme. Speaking after receiving this commitment Deputy Connick said: “I am very disappointed that New Ross is the only major town in the entire South East region that will not have at least one pharmacy operating under the State Drugs Schemes.  I respect the decision of the local pharmacists to terminate their contracts under this scheme.  I understand the difficulties they face with the new arrangements and I have made representations on their behalf at national level.  I have been in constant contact with the local pharmacists, the HSE and the Department of Health over the past number of weeks.  I had hoped that a solution could be found which would allow at least one pharmacist in New Ross to continue to dispense medicine under the State Drugs Schemes.  Unfortunately this solution could not be found in time.

This situation was going to place great difficulties on a lot of people and was going to force them to make a round trip of up to 40 miles to a town where pharmacists continued to dispense medicine under the State Drugs Schemes.  This was not a realistic option for many people, particularly the sick or elderly.  It would also have taken a lot of business out of New Ross town centre.  I have received a large number of enquiries to my Constituency Office from members of the general public who were concerned about this lack of service in New Ross.  There was a lot of fear, frustration and anger amongst the public that New Ross was the only town in the South East where they could not get their medicines.  I am glad that the HSE have agreed to a solution that will overcome these difficulties and that they have been willing to make a commitment to me that a HSE operated pharmacy will open in New Ross.  I believe that this HSE operated pharmacy will be in a position to open to the general public in the near future.  Information about this will shortly become available from the HSE on their website www.hse.ie and on their helpline at 1850 24 1850.”