Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the paediatric diabetes clinic services at Cork University Hospital. I take on board the situation he raised in respect of a four-year-old with type 1 diabetes who is starting school for the first time and trying to cope with all the intricacies of that. As the Deputy is aware, type 1 diabetes is an intensive condition to manage.

Commencing a child on an insulin pump requires intensive education for not only the child but the entire family, as well as the school and the special needs assistant, SNA, involved. It involves close monitoring of glucose levels and insulin doses, particularly in the early stages of insulin pump use.

To support the child and the family, an intensive programme is put in place by the multidisciplinary team. This helps to optimise the child's health and prevent hospitalisation. Specialist nurse teams work closely with the family to allow for close monitoring, insulin pump dose adjustment and to ensure the child and family have guidance and support during intercurrent illness and outpatient appointments.

The HSE has advised that with respect to services in the Cork area, Cork University Hospital, CUH, is a centre for paediatric diabetes providing care for patients in the south-west region. There are currently more than 525 paediatric patients attending the diabetes service in CUH. In CUH the multidisciplinary team members have met and reviewed all patients, who will be prioritised in line with the individual patient's clinical need, based on best practice and international guidelines in the recommencement of the insulin pump service. The HSE has advised me that the new pumps are due to be available in CUH by the start of July.

A small selection of children will be started on the new pumps and it is planned to increase the numbers as more supplies become available in CUH. Children will be supported and guided in their use on a case by case basis. The HSE has assured me that engagement is ongoing with the Cork diabetes parent group, T1 Diabetes Parents' Alliance, which is being kept updated on service developments.

The HSE has confirmed that the CUH paediatric diabetic team comprises one whole-time equivalent consultant dedicated to the paediatric diabetes and endocrinology service. This is provided by two paediatric consultants with a special interest in diabetes and endocrinology at 0.5 whole-time equivalents each. There is also one full-time dietician in post and two whole-time equivalent diabetes nurse specialists in post. The HSE has further advised that additional staffing resources were secured by way of a business case submitted by CUH to the South/Southwest Hospital Group, where an advanced nurse practitioner and two additional diabetics nurse specialists were secured for the paediatric diabetes service. These posts are being progressed through recruitment with a nurse specialist panel being available to allow for the direct progression of the positions. I take on board what the Deputy has said in that it cannot happen soon enough, especially with 525 young children attending the service.

The Government, along with the Department of Health and the South/Southwest Hospital Group are fully committed to the progressive development of the paediatric diabetes clinic service within the group and to improving this service for patients of the south and south-west region.

See this speech in context