Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to the meeting next week. The Deputy is welcome to come along and engage with Oireachtas Members, the group and me on the issues we discussed when I visited Letterkenny previously.

Letterkenny and Sligo university hospitals provide essential high quality hospital care for patients in the north west. I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to develop services in both hospitals, including those for patients with diabetes.

Adult diabetes services at Letterkenny are provided by a consultant endocrinologist, supported by a locum consultant general physician with a diabetic interest. In order to address waiting lists, additional clinics are provided on a monthly basis. Furthermore, the Saolta University Healthcare Group has advised that it is making applications for the approval of a second consultant post and an advanced nurse practitioner post in insulin pump therapy to serve both adult and paediatric patients. I can assure the Deputy that when the applications are made, they will be assessed with a degree of priority because of the importance of the matter.

With regard to the provision of paediatric diabetes services, an insulin pump therapy service commenced at Sligo University Hospital in 2015, with outreach clinics delivered at Letterkenny. However, in mid-April the consultant paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric diabetes post in Sligo became vacant and the Saolta University Healthcare Group has advised that it is actively engaged in recruiting a replacement. That process is ongoing. Pending completion of the recruitment process, consultant paediatricians at Sligo and Letterkenny hospitals have undertaken additional training and development to maintain the provision of the paediatric insulin pump therapy service at both hospitals. Further additional support for these services has been arranged with another consultant, currently practising within the Saolta hospitals.

Provision of a diabetes centre at Sligo hospital is included in the capital plan for this year. HSE Estates advises that planning permission for the centre has been granted; construction is scheduled to commence by the end of the year and be completed in quarter three of next year. Filling the permanent diabetes consultant post at Sligo will enable the group overall, including in County Donegal, to further advance its plan for the diabetes care centre.

I will meet the Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland, the HSE and the Saolta University Healthcare Group this month to discuss the current challenges and future development of diabetes services in the north west.

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