Edenderry surgery services re-opened just 48 hours after fire

An Edenderry doctor is crediting his local community for being able to re-open a surgery just 48 hours after what’s being treated as an arson attack.

Dr Maurice Carroll’s Edenderry Clinic surgery at Boyne Meadows, just off the Dublin Road in Edenderry, was forced out of action by a fire that was reported just before 9.30pm on January 26 last.

According to Edenderry’s Sergeant Kevin Quinn the surgery’s reception area suffered extensive damage, with smoke damage to the rest of the building.

Dr Carroll has since set up a temporary surgery across the road from the original premises.

Thanks to surgery details being stored electronically using a triple encryption system no patient files or medical records were lost in the incident.

“Edenderry Clinic has over 3,000 patients and they, along with the community in Edenderry, have rallied around the surgery,” Dr Carroll told the Offaly Independent this week.

“There were hundreds of goodwill messages along with assistance from the local residents’ committee. This raised our morale during a difficult time.”

Dr Carroll said help from Edenderry gardai, the HSE, his staff and Dr Brady and other GP colleagues in the town allowed him to begin business again within 48 hours of the fire.

“Continuity of care for the patients of Edenderry Clinic is my priority,” he said.

“That is why, in spite of adversity, and even though the clinic is in a temporary location, a full service is available.”

That service includes both public and private medical care, an STI clinic, executive screening, minor surgery, physiotherapy and counselling services.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent Sgt Quinn said gardai are currently awaiting results from the analysis of samples of debris from the fire-damaged surgery, but are treating the incident as arson.

He has requested that anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour in the area around the time of the incident to contact Edenderry garda station on 046 9731290.