Ward of words over proposal for GP surgery and pharmacy on Cork's northside

A pre-election war of words has broken out over a proposal to open a GP surgery and pharmacy on the site of a long disused northside pub.

Sandra Murphy Kelleher, a Fianna Fáil candidate for Cork North Central in tomorrow’s general election, on Tuesday announced that plans were under way for MyCorkGP to open a GP and pharmacy at the Hollyhill Inn site, which has been vacant for almost a decade.

This was despite there being no change-of-use planning permission for the site.

Ms Murphy Kelleher said the development would greatly benefit the local community, offering progress in community healthcare.

“I am very happy to work with Dr Nick Flynn and his dedicated team and have witnessed first-hand their commitment to improving healthcare for the people of Cork,” she said.

Delighted

In a video posted on social media by Ms Murphy Kelleher, Dr Nick Flynn of MyCorkGP said that with space becoming limited at the nearby St Mary’s campus, he was delighted that “thanks to a lot of hard work from Sandra behind the scenes” a new premises had been secured.

“We’re going to have an expanded medical GP practice here, with a pharmacy, to serve the people of the northside of Cork City,” Dr Flynn said.

MyCorkGP was founded in 1989 by Dr George O’Mahony and currently has four premises, in the St Mary’s Primary Care Centre in Hollyhill, Douglas Road, North Main Street Shopping Centre, and Grenagh.

Dr Flynn said the new development would help his practice to meet its patients’ needs for years to come.

“An additional six-room GP clinic on the site of the Hollyhill Inn will mean we can employ three more doctors and three more nurses to provide the care that the ageing community in this area of Cork city requires,” he said.

Responding, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said his party had mounted an extensive campaign calling for the compulsory purchase of the old Hollyhill Inn site, which is owned by a Dublin-based company called Certhia Ltd and has been on Cork City Council’s derelict sites register since September of this year.

Noting that there was no change-of-use planning permission for the site, Mr Gould said he hoped the announcement wasn’t “a cynical attempt by Fianna Fáil to win votes on the northside because they know they’ve been found out in this election”.

Describing current services as “on their knees”, he added that a new GP facility was “absolutely” needed in the area.

Convenient

“It seems very convenient that this announcement was made three days before a general election,” Mr Gould said.

“I am calling on Fianna Fáil to now explain how they can make an announcement like this when no change-of-use planning permission has even been sought.”

Asked by The Echo about the lack of planning permission for the proposed GP surgery and pharmacy, Dr Flynn said he had a reputation for getting things done and would not have become involved unless the development could be completed.

“I am confident I can deliver a GP practice on the Hollyhill site,” he said.

Disappointed

Ms Murphy Kelleher said she was disappointed to see Sinn Féin’s “typical response” to the announcement: “Rather than resorting to negativity, it is important to focus on what this development represents – a significant investment in a much-needed healthcare facility for the northside.”