Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As people might be aware, next Sunday, 14 November, is International Diabetes Day. We have come a long way in this country in terms of supporting and providing treatment and so on for people with diabetes. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the mid-west. The diabetes unit in the mid-west hospital is grossly inadequate to support the needs of people with diabetes in Limerick. There are people who require expert support and advice in terms of use of insulin pumps but they cannot get it at the hospital in Limerick. They have to travel to Galway or other areas to get it. The clinic in Galway is a very good clinic. Many of the people in the mid-west who previously used the services in the clinic in Limerick have been moved to the Galway clinic. This is unacceptable. New treatments coming online, such as the dose adjustment for normal eating, DAFNE, approach in terms treating people with diabetes, are not being provided in Limerick. New treatments that have been identified and new ways of supporting people with diabetes are not being provided in Limerick. Limerick is not taking on any new patients who require support with insulin pumps. This is not good enough. I want a debate on this issue with the Minister for Health. I have submitted a Commencement matter on this issue for discussion next week, which I hope the Cathaoirleach will accept, but we also need a debate on what is going on in Limerick, why the investment is not being provided in Limerick and why the unit is not being upgraded and made fit for purpose. People with diabetes in Ennis, County Clare, Limerick and Tipperary deserve the same standard of care and support as citizens in other parts of the country.