Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Deputy Kathleen Lynch, Deputy Allen and, indeed, Deputy Ciarán Lynch for raising this issue today.

The Minister is aware that the number of children diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes who are attending Cork University Hospital, CUH, has increased from 122 in 2000 to 275 in 2007. She is pleased to note that the HSE is taking steps to boost the service for these children.

The HSE has succeeded in recruiting a senior dietician for the paediatric service and a suitably qualified dietician commenced providing the service from Tuesday, 30 October. The funding and whole-time equivalent for the post has been ring-fenced and the post will be established in the hospital in a permanent capacity. A clinical nurse specialist post has been offered to a nurse who is already working in the paediatric unit at the hospital. She will be able to take up duty when her current post has been back-filled. It is likely that approval for her replacement will be granted shortly.

The CUH provides a service whereby a dietician and the clinical nurse specialist for diabetes attend the general paediatric clinics to see urgent cases of children with diabetes, for example, those who are newly diagnosed, have a new regime or are experiencing difficulties with control. The hospital management has given an assurance that every effort will be made to ensure that all the relevant staff attend these clinics.

The HSE has under consideration the following additional staffing level requirements for the paediatric diabetic service in the south for 2008: 1.2 whole-time equivalent, WTE, clinical nurse specialists; 0.20 WTE dietetic support; 0.5 WTE consultant paediatrician — a share of 1.0 WTE who has a special interest in diabetes and endocrinology and has a general paediatric commitment; and 0.3 WTE social worker support, who also shares the general paediatric commitment.

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