Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and look forward to discussing the matter further with him with the Donegal Diabetes Association next Wednesday. I highlight the impact on children with diabetes in County Donegal of not having a paediatric consultant endocrinologist in Sligo. It means that insulin pump therapy is not available to newly presenting children under the age of five years with type 2 diabetes. The service is struggling to provide a support service for the children who are receiving this therapy. It is crucial that the post be filled soon to ensure a service will be available to all children with diabetes. It is also crucial that Letterkenny University Hospital see an increase in staff numbers. An additional consultant should be provided, with the necessary support staff, to serve adults with diabetes. Teenagers who enter the adult diabetes service on reaching the age of 18 years are moving from having repeat appointments every three to four months to having to wait over 20 months for them. That is simply not acceptable and is very distressing for them. The problem can only be solved by having an additional consultant in Letterkenny University Hospital to ensure the service can be provided. Having regard to the fact that there are 7,000 people in the county with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is crucial a service be available. As we know, prevention is better than cure. Therefore, the provision of support is critical for patients with diabetes.

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