Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. Diabetes is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of people living with the condition. If not well managed, it can lead to debilitating complications. Management is required across the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery, including self-management support as well as care delivered through general practice, community specialist care and hospital inpatient specialist care. In recent years, there has been increasing demand on paediatric diabetes services linked to a nationally recognised increased prevalence of childhood diabetes. Insulin pump therapy supports these patients to improve their glucose control and improves their quality of life.

To support insulin pump users, a diabetes team needs to have a level of staffing that includes dietitians, diabetes nurse specialists or advanced nurse practitioners, and a consultant.Where a vacancy arises within a diabetes team, the HSE endeavours to recruit an appropriate replacement as soon as possible. Where there is a loss of staff within a diabetes team, certain elements of service may be temporarily halted to ensure that the insulin pump service can continue to be delivered in a safe manner, pending recruitment of a suitable replacement. It is acknowledged that hospitals are facing challenges, given the national and international scarcity of specialist trained staff, and where possible, the HSE redeploys staff to ensure continuity of a service.

The Government is committed to improving services for those living with diabetes. As part of budget 2023, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, allocated funding to commence the development of a national diabetes registry. A multidisciplinary HSE and academic team with clinical, public health and IT representation commenced work on phase 1 of this multi-year project last year. As part of budget 2024, half a million euro in further funding has been provided for the development of this important initiative. With a diabetes registry, the HSE will be better able to track the prevalence of the condition and improve planning for future services.

Officials in the Department of Health are engaging with the HSE diabetes clinical team in consideration of the future development of diabetes related services. As part of this work, the HSE is conducting an examination of diabetes staffing levels across the country. This will help to identify and address gaps in diabetes services.

In addition, budget 2023 provided funding for the commencement of a national paediatric audit of type 1 diabetes. This audit will highlight areas of good practice, identify service deficits and regional disparities and promote data-driven resource allocation. Due to the ongoing recruitment pause for senior administrative grades, a revised proposal has been received from the National Office of Clinical Audit to continue with this important work in 2024.

I wish to say, in conclusion, that HSE staffing levels have increased by more than 45,000 since December 2014. Last year alone, an additional 8,500 people were recruited and are working in the HSE. There is a substantial increase in staffing levels right across the board and that is important to acknowledge as well.