John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion. It is by no means an exaggeration to use the word "plight" when describing the way in which people with type 1 diabetes deal with their condition. It is a difficult task for them. In County Mayo alone, there are approximately 100 children and adolescents living with the condition. That figure increases to 400 when the counties of Galway and Roscommon are factored in. In County Mayo, an average of one person per month is diagnosed with diabetes.

Many people living with type 1 diabetes receive their care locally but others travel to Dublin to access intensive treatment as the local diabetic care teams are under-resourced and underdeveloped. Nonetheless, I cannot speak highly enough of the under-resourced staff in Mayo General Hospital, which includes one paediatrician with an interest in diabetes and two specialist nurses to cater for those 100 people.

However, while the access to the treatment in Dublin is of benefit to patients, because of how it is resourced and the amount of technology available, it is far from an ideal solution. Children with diabetes, who should be seen four or five times a year in hospital to help limit the damage which high blood sugars can cause to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and smaller blood vessels in adulthood, are not seen as often as recommended.

As we all know, if diabetes is not well managed, it will cost a huge amount in future health care. In an attempt to address this issue, Diabetes Action has proposed a reorganisation of diabetic paediatric services in eight networks. It is envisaged that one of those networks would serve the 400 affected children in Mayo, Roscommon and Galway, so that they could avail of intensive therapies locally.

To ensure the equal availability of life-changing intensive treatments for those living with the condition, seven of the networks outside Dublin would require additional staff. I am aware that money is not available at the moment, but there are huge amounts of money in the health service. If reconfiguration took place there would be a lot of money saved down the line. The financial cost is estimated to be approximately €750,000 per annum but research has proven that by making the appointments, the potential is there to reduce the development of complications in adulthood by as much as 76%. That is a hugely significant figure, given that the treatment of diabetes complications normally account for 60% of the diabetes care budget, while the budget for diabetes care itself can account of as much as 15% of Ireland's health budget.

The central message of Diabetes Action is that people with diabetes have not been helped or served well by the generalist health policy. Instead, it proposes that the various issues need to be addressed by a national diabetes strategy. If the Government were to implement such strategic policies, the health of those living with diabetes would be greatly improved while simultaneously saving the State hundreds of millions of euro each year caring for people who will develop health complications in their diabetes care over the next decade.

I was speaking this evening with the parent of a ten-year-old child with diabetes. The parent went through the care the child needs, including five injections per day. The mother has to administer one injection in school at lunchtime. Technology is available in some areas, including, for example, an insulin pump that is available in Cork and Dublin, but not in Mayo General Hospital. The pump used to cost €5,000 but now costs only €2,500. The cost of some such technology and the appointment of an endocrinologist would make more sense. It would amount, in other words, to a centre of excellence. I acknowledge that one cannot have it in every hospital, but it could be in some hospitals to serve the regions so that people with diabetes would not have to travel to Dublin where facilities are totally overrun.

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