Charter Medical is the new force in Irish healthcare
4 March, 2007
Charter Medical is the new force in Irish healthcare. The group was set up in 2005 by businessman and developer Mr Paddy Kelly and Mr John Gallagher. The company’s vision is to create effective “patient-centred” healthcare systems in partnership with the public and private sectors.
Over the next twenty four months the group will roll out a number of acute care and primary care projects in Ireland aimed at alleviating some of the “key” bottlenecks in the country’s healthcare delivery.
Charter has just completed its first Primary Care support facility in Dublin’s Smithfield Market area at a cost of €20m. Funding for the clinic was completely private and did not qualify for any of the current medical tax shelters. The clinic was opened to support general practice by providing services which up to now were only available in a hospital setting.
Charter recently announced the opening of its first walk-in “Urgent Care” centre at the Smithfield clinic. The centre is ideally suited to the 75% of A&E attendees that do not require hospital admission following treatment and also patients referred by family doctors for urgent assessment at outpatient clinics. Care is provided by a team of consultants in emergency medicine who provide a real alternative to hospital accident and emergency departments, capable of managing the majority of injuries. This service is unique in that each patient is assessed and treatment is completed within one hour of arrival. Opening hours are 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 6.00pm on Saturdays.
Included at the Smiithfield clinic is a state of the art diagnostic imaging centre which includes MRI, CT, DEXA, Ultrasound and X-Ray facilities which are open late in the evening and at weekends. The facility is the only one of its type to offer preferential arrangements to patients not covered by health insurers or the GMS medical card system.
Charter recently entered into a partnership with the Health Service Executive to provide X-Ray and Ultrasound services to all patients both public and private who are referred by their family doctor. This service is funded by the Health Service Executive and is free to the patient at point of service.
Charter Medical in partnership with the Mater and St. Mary’s Hospitals’ have opened a new geriatric rapid assessment clinic at Smithfield to cater for patients of 70 years and over to treat defined illnesses and conditions. So far 95% of patients have returned home after treatment without a need for a visit to accident and emergency.
The clinic provides a dedicated transport service to collect and return patients to their homes. This service is also free at point of service to the patient and is funded by the Health Service Executive. Access to this service is by direct GP referral.
Charter’s health and wellness clinic is a new concept in health screening and wellness assessment. Our fully experienced team of professionals cater for both corporate and individual clients alike. This unique service not only provides health screening services but also can create tailor made packages for those individuals seeking advice on nutrition, stress management and healthy exercise.
Charter medicals goal is to provide world class accessible healthcare when and where it is needed.
