Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment tonight.

The answer to a recent parliamentary question I tabled indicated that during 2008 some 667 people underwent an amputation in hospitals, of whom 338 suffered from diabetes; some 29 of these were from the Kerry and Limerick area. People with diabetes requiring amputations used 12,937 hospital bed days in 2008, of which 10,132 were in publicly funded hospitals. In 2007, the figure was 11,637, of which 11,209 were in publicly funded hospitals. The inpatient costs of the publicly funded health service for these patients was in excess of €7.4 million in 2008 and €7.2 million in 2007. This cost relates to the inpatient stay only and specifically excludes outpatient, emergency department and day-care costs. Neither does it include lifelong social welfare payments, housing renovation costs and so on.

Prior to having an amputation, these people usually spend many months in hospital having treatment for their ulceration. In addition to those requiring amputations, people with diabetes suffering from foot ulcers are also occupying hospitals beds. These ulcers develop as a result of friction and uneven pressure on the foot which leads to minor problems compounded by poor blood supply and nerve dysfunction. Access to a podiatrist would ensure that minor problems were identified early and corrected, thereby preventing major problems later.

There are no diabetes podiatry services in Kerry or Limerick. A podiatry service should be freely available to all people with diabetes. In County Kerry in 2008, 108 required inpatient treatment for foot ulceration. Some 53 of these had diabetes.

Currently, there are no public podiatry services in County Kerry. There are only two full-time podiatrists available through the public health system in Ireland. However, there are 20 students in the Galway podiatry school due to qualify in 2012. They will be first Irish-trained podiatrists but they will not be employed due to the recruitment embargo. There must be a change in this policy.

In an ideal world, County Kerry should have seven new podiatry posts but, at a minimum, two podiatrists - one for north Kerry and one for south Kerry - should be appointed. Research has shown that this would reduce the level of amputations by as much as 70% annually, resulting in huge savings for the Government and the HSE.

County Kerry has been very much neglected as regards services. For example, even in cardiology, a public cardiologist is shared with the Bons Secours Hospital and that is only for four units out of ten units of his time. We have few services in regard to rheumatology, etc., but we have no public podiatry service and that is the reason so many people in County Kerry have amputations and so many of them have major foot problems.

I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to convey the message that when podiatrists are being appointed that County Kerry is not left out again and that it gets what is essential for the health of the people of county.

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