Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been contacted by numerous people across County Tipperary regarding concerns about diabetic services in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. These concerns were highlighted in an article in The Irish Times, which concluded that diabetics in the mid-west region are offered a disgraceful service. There are 20,000 registered patients between counties Tipperary, Limerick and Clare. There are 225,000 people with diabetes in Ireland. Of this figure, between 10% and 15% have type 1 diabetes. People of any age can be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, however, it is much more likely to be diagnosed in young people. Up to five children and teenagers are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every week in Ireland. According to medical reports, the number of older people being diagnosed with the condition is steadily rising. Early intervention and specialised medical support structures are key to averting an influx of adult patients with type 1 diabetes.

In addition to being given the proper medication to treat and stabilise type 1 diabetes, the condition requires expert instruction on managing both the administration of insulin and the effective control of diet. In University Hospital Limerick, the needs of paediatric type 1 diabetics are being met by a specialist dietician. There is no specialist dietician in the hospital to attend to the needs of long-term or newly-diagnosed adult type 1 diabetic patients. If they are hospitalised, they can receive dietary advice and support from a ward dietician. There is no specialist care or outpatient appointments available for adult diabetics at University Hospital Limerick. This is not the quality of service we expect from a centre of excellence.

It is discriminatory and disgraceful that UHL does not provide pumps that deliver insulin subcutaneously 24 hours a day. These pumps offer diabetics the benefit of the latest technology. It is a simpler, and much less invasive, means of controlling the condition. These devices are efficient and effective and give the patient peace of mind and a release from regular injections.

In December 2020, UHL received confirmation of funding to recruit for three new additional dietetic posts for the treatment of adult diabetes. Nine months later, and those posts have not been filled. The HSE, in a typical bureaucratic flourish, tells us that the recruitment process for two of these posts is at an advanced stage, while the process for the third remains ongoing.

The UHL staff currently working with diabetics are providing exemplary care to patients. They are delivering a service under immense pressure. They need additional support.

Adults need and deserve access to dietary services and the provision of insulin pumps from UHL, which is deemed to be the centre of excellence for the Limerick, Clare and Tipperary area.

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