Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

These posts would form part of a multidisciplinary team with the nursing and dietician posts currently being put in place. The general manager and nurse service manager of Cork University Hospital, together with the business manager for the division of paediatrics, have met with representatives of the support group and are fully aware of their concerns in regard to the paediatric diabetic service. The Minister is satisfied that every effort is being made to address those concerns.

At the end of 2006, the Health Service Executive established an expert advisory group, EAG, on diabetes to draw up standards of care for persons with diabetes. This process will take account of the Department of Health and Children document, Diabetes: Prevention and Model for Patient Care. The EAG has subdivided its work into six areas: standards of care, retinopathy, paediatrics, education and patient empowerment, podiatry and model of shared care. The EAG will report in 2008 and the allocation of any additional resources for diabetes will be informed by this process.

The Minister is confident that the measures being adopted by the Health Service Executive will bring about much improvement in the paediatric diabetic services in the Health Service Executive southern area.

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