September 18 2017: In a move set to be welcomed by its 580,000 members, laya healthcare today announced a partnership with Affidea – Ireland’s leading independent provider of diagnostic imaging services including MRI, Ultrasound, X-ray, CT and Dexa scans – to access Express Care, a new network of rapid-access minor injury and illness clinics across Ireland.
The first of the urgent-care clinics will open in Cork and Dublin in December 2017, and will be open to all members of the public. The consultant-led Express Care clinics will treat a wide range of minor illnesses and injuries including minor burns, sports injuries, fractures and sprains or possible breaks. Treatment will also be available for minor illnesses including fever, rashes and infections. Laya healthcare members will have access to the latest diagnostic services on-site including MRI, ultrasound, CT and X-ray.
The walk-in clinics will open from 10am to 10pm, 365 days a year; with no appointment required for urgent care. The clinics aim to treat patients within one hour, and will treat young children from 12 months onwards.
Commenting on the partnership, Dónal Clancy, Managing Director of laya healthcare said: “This is welcome news for laya healthcare members, and for all those with and without health insurance. We’re thrilled to work with a partner as established as Affidea; they bring world-class experience and the most advanced treatment and technology solutions to urgent healthcare that will benefit our 580,000 members. Together, we have huge ambitions to transform rapid-access minor injury and illness clinical care in Ireland.”
Affidea Ireland CEO Tom Finn added: “We’re delighted to partner with laya healthcare. From the get-go, they demonstrated an ambition to provide an extraordinary patient service in urgent care centres for minor injuries and illnesses. Affidea Express Care will provide immediate access to all who require its services.”
Today’s announcement is part of Affidea’s 2025 strategic plan to evolve the company from just diagnostics to providing as many of the adjacent services as possible, and the introduction of Express Care clinic is the start of this exciting transition.
Laya healthcare will reimburse between 50-75% of the initial fee across many of our schemes.Other schemes will allow a monetary amount to be put towards the outpatient excess.