Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Anne Rabbitte for raising this issue. From her contribution, one can hear how informed she is about it and how passionate she is in assisting the parents who have approached her about it.

Children’s needs should be at the centre of what we do and how we look after them. Parents and families face many challenges in caring for their children with diabetes. I acknowledge that this is not easy.

Galway University Hospital serves as a regional centre for the delivery of diabetes, endocrine and related services to the population of the west. A consultant paediatrician with a special interest in diabetes has been recognised as a priority post for the hospital. A consultant has been appointed. However, the successful candidate is overseas and, owing to prior work commitments, is expected to take up post in March 2017. While every effort is made to offer the patients an appointment at the hospital as close as possible to where they live, there are instances where local hospitals do not have the necessary capacity. In this instance, patients are offered care at an alternate hospital in either the public or independent sector.

There is an arrangement in place with Limerick University Hospital whereby all infants and children with newly diagnosed diabetes under five years of age are referred for specialist services. This will continue until the new postholder starts work. The Saolta hospital group advises that it is seeking to recruit a locum consultant in the intervening period. Also, in the Saolta hospital group region, an insulin pump therapy service for children in the north west is in place at Sligo University Hospital, with outreach clinics being delivered at Letterkenny University Hospital.

At a national level, a new model of care for paediatric diabetes was launched by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, last December. This model of care was developed with expert input in line with international evidence. The consultation process also involved diabetic representative organisations, children with diabetes and their parents. The model proposes to organise paediatric diabetic care around integrated practice units, which will consist of one centre of reference while several additional units will undertake all forms of diabetes care. Tertiary care and insulin pump therapy will be provided to children of all ages by a multidisciplinary team. Additional units attached to the centre will support the delivery of services locally acting under the umbrella of these integrated practice units.

Full implementation of the model of care by the HSE will take place over the coming years. This model of care will improve access to and the quality of care for affected children by reducing acute and chronic complications associated with type I diabetes. It will also improve the quality of life for children and families by optimising diabetes education, carbohydrate counting and insulin pump initiation.

The Department of Health will continue to work with the HSE to ensure the service needs and waiting times in this area will be addressed.

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